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

by Mò Xiāng Tóng Xiù

Hua Cheng retrieved a fan from one of the armory shelves. It was small and intricate, its spine and leaf made of pure gold, serene and beautiful. Hua Cheng twirled it in his hand, then snapped it open. He grinned wordlessly, elegance suffusing his murderous aura. He flipped his hand and fanned, and a strong gust shot toward them with a blinding silver flash.

Unexpectedly, just when scimitar and sword were about to clash, a blinding white light exploded within the armory. It was a light so immense it enveloped the entirety of the armory, and everyone temporarily lost their sight. All they could see was glaring white.

“That white light was you?” Shi Qingxuan remembered. “Your Highness, you broke those two apart?” “I’m a swordsman, after all,” Xie Lian replied.

At the moment right before Hua Cheng and Lang Qianqiu’s blades clashed, Xie Lian darted in. He’d randomly taken a sword from the stacks of weapons on the shelves and made two particular moves between the sword and the scimitar. In the first move, he knocked away Lang Qianqiu’s greatsword. In the second move, he blocked the scimitar Eming.

The Flower-Crowned Martial God: Sword in One Hand, Flower in the Other. Shi Qingxuan had only remembered the flower. He had forgotten that Xie Lian ascended because of his sword.

“No, Your Highness,” Shi Qingxuan said. “You have to know, giving out merits works a hundred times faster than asking alone!”

After a moment of silence, Feng Xin asked, “What happened to your right arm?” “So what if he’s injured?” another voice came. “There are so many heavenly officials, and who among us has ever returned unscathed after a patrol?” The voice was decorous and mellow, but the words were unpleasant—it was, of course, Mu Qing. He crossed into the great hall and also took a look at Xie Lian, then at Lang Qianqiu. Yet the face he made was the opposite of Feng Xin: he merely arched his brows slightly, looking like he was ready to watch a good show.

Lang Qianqiu was the Crown Prince of Yong’an, and the State Preceptor of Yong’an during his time was the second of the Dual Evil Masters: the State Preceptor Fangxin. No one knew his origin or his background. Yet in this moment, Lang Qianqiu had Xie Lian in his grip and called him “State Preceptor.” Did this mean…that Xie Lian was the evil cultivator who brought ruin to Yong’an—the State Preceptor Fangxin?!

Legends say the State Preceptor Fangxin was aloof, mysterious, and cold. He never showed his face in public and always wore a mask of silver. I’m sure His Highness Tai Hua must’ve never seen his face.”

Jun Wu motioned with one hand, and everyone straightened up once more. He walked willfully, and as he passed by Xie Lian, he tapped on his right shoulder. Fresh blood was still dripping down Xie Lian’s sleeve, but with that tap, it ceased immediately.

Ling Wen continued, “On the night of the seventeenth birthday of the Crown Prince of Yong’an, the palace threw a Gilded Banquet in celebration. The State Preceptor Fangxin…it was at that feast, with a sword in hand, that he slaughtered every member of the royal family in attendance.”

Lian. “I never understood why you did what you did. You said it was because you couldn’t stand seeing us on the throne, but I didn’t believe it, and I never thought you wanted to overthrow the monarchy and take our place. But now I finally know why.”

“The kidnappers and the guards had all suffered grave injuries, and so it was this busker who helped me escape and escorted me all the way back to the palace. Out of immense gratitude, His Majesty my father and my mother the queen fervently tried to retain him and discovered his tremendous ability in swordsmanship. So he was ultimately invited to become our State Preceptor. He taught me the art of the blade for five years, and I’m more than familiar with his style.

Xie Lian looked at the sword, then looked at him. In the end, he shook his head slowly. “I swore many years ago to never kill with the sword again.”

“Xianle,” Jun Wu spoke. Xie Lian bowed. “Yes, My Lord.” “Do you concede that Tai Hua’s accusations are true?” Jun Wu asked. “I concede,” Xie Lian replied. The “I concede” was uttered frostily, the complete opposite of Xie Lian’s usual manner of speaking, and the faces of Feng Xin, Mu Qing, and Shi Qingxuan all changed colors.

Many still couldn’t comprehend what sort of feelings Jun Wu held toward Xie Lian. During his first ascension, the Crown Prince of Xianle was of course treated with the utmost favor. But the two had a huge fight during his second ascension, and Xie Lian even stabbed Jun Wu a few times before he was defeated. This third ascension, the two had been at peace with each other, as if those past conflicts had been forgotten.

“I humbly ask My Lord to remove my godhood and banish me to the Mortal Realm,” Xie Lian said.

“I don’t want to fight you,” Xie Lian said. “Why not?!” Lang Qianqiu shouted. “It’s not like we’ve never fought before. Life or death, the outcome doesn’t matter, let’s just put an end to this!” Xie Lian said plainly, “No reason. But fight me and you will surely die.”

When Feng Xin and Mu Qing heard that Xie Lian had faced Eming head-on, they both stared at him.

“How is that different from what’s happening here?” Pei Ming argued. “His Highness Tai Hua saw Xie Lian commit crimes with his own eyes, and he heard him admit to those crimes with his own ears. How is that any different?”

Jun Wu continued, “Xianle refuses to give us that full story, so his request for banishment is denied. He will be detained in the Palace of Xianle, and I will personally interrogate him.

Even so, Jun Wu chose to shield Xie Lian… Didn’t that mean he was still very much in the Emperor’s favor?! Many of the officials now saw which way the wind was blowing and decided that, going forward, they wouldn’t publicly say the words “Laughingstock of the Three Realms.”

“Of course,” Shi Qingxuan replied. “I won’t let Pei Ming get his way. Where is she?” “I’ve hidden her in a small pickle jar in my Puqi Shrine. If you can, please air her out on occasion,” Xie Lian said. “…”

You must understand that the moment a sword is unsheathed, someone will be hurt. When force is released, something must receive it. Thus, it is wrong to say I dissolved the force of two swords. Nothing was dissolved; I absorbed their attacks. To stop an attack by hurting oneself is a foolish technique and only to be used when there are no other alternatives.

“Shifu! What are you doing? What did you do?! State Preceptor!!” It was a long while before he heard his own voice, devoid of emotion— “You all deserved it.”

it with his left hand, and when he opened his palm, he found a small blue porcelain bottle. It was a bottle of medicine. Mu Qing said apathetically, “It’s pretty unsightly, dragging around that bloodied arm.” Xie Lian held the bottle but didn’t move. He watched Mu Qing instead, a calculating expression on his face. Since his third ascension, there could only be one phrase to describe the way Mu Qing treated him: passive-aggressive.

“If the two of you came to ask the same question, then I will give you the same answer. There’s no reason to disbelieve it. Every word I said at the Palace of Divine Might today was true.”

expression of his the most and said in annoyance, “All right, put that face away. After everything, for who are you looking so pained?” Feng Xin shot him a death glare. “Not for you! Get out of here!” “And who are you to tell me to get out?” Mu Qing countered.

Mu Qing was fine of features—a standard pretty boy—and upon impact of Feng Xin’s mighty punch, it was like a persimmon had been smashed on his face—bloody and miserable. Yet he stood his ground, and without so much as a whine, he threw a punch right back.

Feng Xin cried angrily, “Don’t think I don’t know your nasty thoughts! The more crimes he commits, the happier you become!!” Mu Qing spat, “I knew you always looked down on me! What a joke! Do you see yourself?! What right do you have to look down on me? You’re the pot calling the kettle black!”

Xie Lian still remembered back when the three of them were younger: Mu Qing had been soft-spoken and well mannered, and if Feng Xin hit anyone it was only under Xie Lian’s orders, and he’d stop when Xie Lian said stop. That was no longer true.

The front doors to the Palace of Xianle had been kicked open. Beyond the door wasn’t the expansive Grand Avenue of Divine Might of the Heavenly Court but rather a dead blackness. And from within that darkness, innumerable chilling silver butterflies rushed out toward them.

Yet not a single silver butterfly attacked him; instead, they flew around him to furiously charge the two behind who had been fighting just moments before. Feng Xin and Mu Qing had suffered before at the hands of those wraith butterflies—they knew how powerful they were and didn’t dare to be careless. In only a blink, they’d both raised their hands at the same time and cried, “Shield!”

And yet, when Xie Lian turned his head, not a single hair upon it had been harmed. He frowned. “Huh?” The two looked closely and almost spat blood on the spot from their furious shock. Xie Lian was staring at them in blank confusion, a wraith butterfly held in one hand.

Don’t you know what it is?! It’s dangerous!” Just then, Xie Lian felt a tightening on his wrist. Someone had grabbed hold of him and pulled hard. His entire body was drawn into the darkness beyond the door. Although he was shrouded in darkness, he didn’t feel any alarm or anxiety. This darkness was like a layer of gentle armor; not only did he not sense any danger, it actually somehow calmed him down.

Mu Qing cried in disbelief, “What audacity! You dare come cause mischief in the Heavenly Court?! What impudence!” A voice laughed. “We’re all the same. Weren’t you heavenly officials of the Upper Court equally impudent in my territory?”

Hua Cheng must’ve used the Teleportation Array to connect the front entrance of the Palace of Xianle to this mountain valley. But how did he do it? One would surely have to be a heavenly official to be in a position to do that, no?!

Mu Qing also entered the communication array. “Bad news! Where’s Ling Wen? Report to the Emperor—Xie Lian ran off!” He usually spoke gently and courteously, but now there was a flustered tinge to his voice.

Feng Xin exclaimed, “What do you mean, ‘ran off’? Stop adding to the confusion!” “Well, he ran off with someone,” Mu Qing said. “He was KIDNAPPED!” Feng Xin clarified angrily.

“Long time no see. How is everyone doing?” With the soft touch of his two fingers, Hua Cheng entered the heavenly communication array through Xie Lian. That nonchalant greeting was heard not just by Xie Lian beside him but by every flustered heavenly official within the communication array. Instantly, they fell into a dead silence. “…” There was a silent uproar. No wonder! Such arrogance could only come from That Person! Hua Cheng continued, “I don’t know if you missed me, but I haven’t thought about any of you at all.”

There certainly were many heavenly officials in the heavens who secretly thought about him every day. But when they heard Hua Cheng say he didn’t think about them at all, they began reciting scriptures to pray that the man would continue not thinking about them going forward.

At the same time, their minds were rolling with stormy waves. Such impertinence from that Crimson Rain Sought Flower! To come all the way to the Upper Court just to kidnap someone, and not just anyone, but the Laughingstock of the Three Realms who was already in hot water…

the way he let go of Xie Lian’s wrist was swift, almost like he’d been shaken off. Xie Lian was immediately reminded of the first time they met and how he had evaded his touch.

But with the way Hua Cheng had just shaken off his touch, Xie Lian abruptly realized—how could he think Hua Cheng would come to rescue him? He had just burned down Paradise Manor and the armory. Wasn’t it more plausible that Hua Cheng had come knocking to settle the score, or for payback?

He was a little taken aback before he remembered. “My arm? My arm’s fine; it doesn’t hurt. It’ll be better soon. Besides, it’s only like this because I charged in and struck back against you. You aren’t to blame in the first place.”

That silver scimitar, hung over the red robes, was shaking nonstop. The eye upon it, shaped by silver lines, was also quivering. If it were the eye of a child, then that child was clearly bawling.

Hua Cheng sidestepped and turned away, avoiding Xie Lian’s touch, and smacked Eming hard on the hilt. “Nothing’s wrong. Pay it no mind.” After being smacked soundly by Hua Cheng, the scimitar Eming—the cursed blade that caused all the gods in heaven to tremble at the mere sound of its name—shook even harder.

Feng Xin seemed to have done exactly what Shi Qingxuan said without a second thought. How did Xie Lian know this? Because the next instant, Feng Xin suddenly swore loudly in the communication array. He cursed whenever he was agitated, and when he cursed, the words were often terribly vulgar—to avoid dirtying eyes and ears, his words shall not be repeated.

Mu Qing’s voice came next, and he also sounded quite dumbfounded. “What is this place?!” It appeared that he had also gone through the door with Feng Xin.

He hurriedly asked, “San Lang, what does a roll of four open to?” “Depends,” Hua Cheng replied. “The door will open to whatever the roller fears most.” Just as Hua Cheng answered, Mu Qing coolly snapped, “You fought to roll first and rolled out a women’s bath! Give me the dice, I’ll roll!” Hearing “women’s bath,” Xie Lian covered his face with his hands.