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

by Mò Xiāng Tóng Xiù

Xie Lian finally understood. Shi Qingxuan could see that Hua Cheng had no ill intent, but on the surface, they had to pretend that Hua Cheng had only barged into the Heavens to collect his due. It would prevent gossip from those who might suggest that Xie Lian had maliciously and intentionally absconded.

“All right, stop acting. He only came to the Heavens to save me. San Lang had good intentions, so why conceal them?” “No more acting,” Shi Qingxuan agreed. “I already sent those two exchanges to the communication array. You don’t understand—no matter how good the intentions, words always end up negative once they’ve been passed around enough. They might as well be negative from the start.”

Seeing that he wouldn’t drop his hostility, nor his bow, Shi Qingxuan suddenly threw herself into his arm. Instantly, Feng Xin’s face paled, worse than if he’d seen a ghost by a million-fold. He screamed, and the shaft of the spiritual arrow dissipated powerlessly like a cloud.

Turned out, Shi Qingxuan had used her bosoms to ram into the arm holding the arrow. By the looks of it, that blow had thoroughly terrified Feng Xin. Shi Qingxuan swung her whisk back, elegantly carefree, looking as if she hadn’t just done anything indecent.

“Did you know?” Xie Lian asked Feng Xin. “That Qi Rong is that Qi Rong?” Feng Xin asked, “Which Qi Rong? Who?” Then he gave a startle. “The one we knew?” “So you didn’t realize it was him either?” Xie Lian remarked. Feng Xin’s face went dark. “No. I’ve never run into the Green Ghost himself and had always assumed the name was just a coincidence. What kind of dumbass would run around flaunting his real name? That’s crazy!” But the moment the words left his mouth, he instantly remembered that Qi Rong was indeed crazy.

There was even an incident where Xie Lian saved a child not even ten years of age from Qi Rong’s clutches; the poor boy had been beaten to a bloody pulp, miserable to the bone. Yet Xie Lian was sympathetic to Qi Rong’s circumstances, plus he was genuinely on Xie Lian’s side, so even Xie Lian never disciplined him physically.

“I’m not talking about him,” Shi Qingxuan said. “I’m talking about you! Your Highness, look at you: the martial gods of the southeast and southwest are both your old buddies, the Martial God of the East is your disciple, that Night-Touring Green Lantern is your little cousin, Crimson Rain Sought Flower is your sworn brother, and I, Lord Wind Master, am your friend. Ain’t that something?”

However, when Hua Cheng and Feng Xin heard “Crimson Rain Sought Flower is your sworn brother,” both looked like they disagreed. Hua Cheng raised his brows, and Feng Xin knitted his.

Hua Cheng looked at him and shifted the umbrella more to Xie Lian’s side, smiling cheerfully. “Just wait. The sky’s about to change.” As soon as he spoke, it poured from the sky! The rain thundered down, flecking and flacking.

Feng Xin was standing on the other side of the cave, however, and had not prepared at all. He was drenched head to toe by this rain. And the worst thing was, this rain was the color of blood.

Shi Qingxuan approached, giving him a small pat on the back. “What a guy. Your Highness, I don’t know how you managed to befriend him, but you’re very lucky.”

Xie Lian raised his eyes and saw Jun Wu seated above on his throne. With a hand propping up his head and fingers pressed against his temple, his eyes were closed and he looked exhausted. Xie Lian could understand exactly how he felt.

Speaking of, which general is responsible for security this month? Isn’t it a dereliction of duty that the Palace of Xianle had the connection spell cast upon it without that general even noticing?” Pei Ming had been standing quietly on the side, unperturbed and with his arms crossed. When he heard Shi Qingxuan, he spoke up. “Me.”

“I knew it. Whenever he stirs up anything, the Emperor says he’ll interrogate him, but in the end nothing comes of it…” “We’ve been blind—he’s actually someone significant. Gotta watch what we say from now on.”

“Xianle, in regards to your methods in managing this matter, you worked hard for nothing and pleased no one.” Xie Lian hung his head. “I know.” “Never mind. You are always like this,” Jun Wu said.

“Why?” Jun Wu answered slowly, “Because it was Hua Cheng who planted a spy in the Heavenly Realm first.”

Jun Wu continued, “To become a supreme, one must have experienced unimaginable suffering and pain. One either ascends from such tribulations or is doomed to the depths of hell, never to return. The two Supreme Ghost Kings that emerged from Mount Tonglu, Black Water and Hua Cheng, are both far more frightening than you think.”

Upon the summit of Mount Taicang, there used to sit the cultivation center of the ancient Kingdom of Xianle: the Royal Holy Temple.

The main god worshipped was the Heavenly Emperor, and his golden temple was situated on the highest peak. The Crown Prince Temple that once stood on the second-highest peak was also a place of magnificent splendor.

Afterward, new seeds were planted upon the burnt earth, and new trees emerged. A few hundred years later, the mountain was fresh and covered once more, but the red leaves were no longer. The scenery was very different from eight hundred years ago.

Lying inside the coffin, alone, was the form of a person covered in elegant, black attire, with their head wrapped in a face cover.

He didn’t dare to touch that powder with his hands, but he couldn’t just let it sit and sift either, like incense ashes flying in the wind. Although in denial, he knew deep within what that was. Once the silk funeral garb was forcibly removed, what else could a sealed cadaver of eight hundred years become?

that pair he saved from being cooked and eaten by Qi Rong back at the Green Ghost’s lair?! Xie Lian understood the situation instantaneously. He swung a punch like striking thunder at the man’s jaw, roaring, “Qi Rong, get the hell out! I’m going to kill you!!”

Although the face was different, who else but Qi Rong could this insane psychotic laughter belong to? When he lost his physical form, he possessed this young father!

The child crawled over, crying loudly. “Waah! Dad! Dad, are you all right?!” He couldn’t understand what was happening, only that his father was being trampled. From his point of view, Xie Lian was like an evil devil, but he was so scared of losing his father that he wouldn’t back down and tried desperately to pull the boot off his father’s chest.

It didn’t matter if the price was a violent beating, Qi Rong was filled with rapture at his opportunity to drag both of them down to the same hell. His eyes shone brightly.

This youth appeared to be about sixteen or seventeen. His skin and lips were both light in color, fresh and neat, and he bore a pair of bright, shimmering eyes, as black as obsidian. His hair was soft and silky, and a few loose strands lightly littered his forehead and cheeks. He looked quiet and obedient, in contrast to the monstrous demon mask in his hand.

If the troublemaker were anyone else, he would’ve flown into a rage already; no one would consider it a strange urge if he brandished a sword with intent to kill. But this troublemaker just happened to be his very, very favorite, most precious disciple, and the very, very distinguished, most precious son of another. He couldn’t beat him, he couldn’t yell at him, and he most definitely couldn’t kill him. Rather than kill him, he’d more likely kill himself!

The one who’d arrived was also a young man of sixteen or seventeen. His build was upright and tall, his skin the color of wheat, and on his back, he carried a long black bow and snow-white quiver. His lips were pressed tight, his brows knit. Even at such a young age, his eyes were determined.

A snow-white silhouette had descended from the sky and landed right before the black-clad demon! Upon his landing, his heavy white robes fluttered and covered the grand stage in the shape of a giant flower, and a golden mask hid his face. He held a sword in one hand, and the other gently flicked that foreboding blade, the resounding ringing pleasing to the ear.

This entrance was like the descent of a real heavenly being, exceedingly audacious! The city wall’s tower was at least thirty meters tall, and the eminent crown prince, whose person was worth a thousand gold, had still leapt down from it!

arts. The God-Pleasing Martial Warrior especially—the presentation and make of his costume were strict, transcendentally magnificent, and after dressing, the weight of everything worn came to twenty-five or thirty kilos. The Martial Warrior must, under this heavy burden, before the eyes of millions, march around the capital a number of times and perform in the Martial Match for at least four hours. There must also be no mishaps throughout, and so the performer must be extraordinarily skilled.

Suddenly, the demon on the stage slashed forward. The Martial Warrior repelled the attack with his sword but made a noise of curiosity. During the Heavenly Parade, the Martial Match was a performance for pleasing the gods, and at most, one should use just a seventh of their power, pulling their swords at contact. However, with that strike he received just now, the sword in his hand had almost flown from his grip. Obviously, his opponent had used all of his might in that blow.

Just then, there was screaming from above! Shocked, Xie Lian lowered his sword and looked up, but he was only able to see a blurry shadow plunging rapidly from the city wall. In that split second, he didn’t have time to think. He pointed his toes and pushed off the ground in a flash to leap into the air, darting upward weightlessly.

In his arms there was a child, his head wrapped in bandages, dirty and unkempt. He was curled up in his hold and watching him dazedly.

This child was no older than seven or eight, and quite the small, gaunt creature. After falling from such a height, his little body was shaking uncontrollably in his arms like a newborn animal. However, from that mess of bandages wrapped around his head there peeked a large black eye that reflected the silhouette of a snow-white figure. He was watching him unblinkingly, as if he could no longer see anything else.

he rarely had the chance to show his face to the people. This was such a rare occasion that many couldn’t help but be intrigued, their gazes all falling on him. Yet when they gazed upon his face, their breathing hitched. That young man had long brows and charming eyes, exceptionally handsome, radiating nobility, so dazzling it forced down the eyes of those looking.

Xie Lian continued his query, coaxing, “How did you come to fall earlier?” “Your Highness, the child probably doesn’t dare to speak. He’s obviously scared witless,” Mu Qing said.

Even when Feng Xin was the one holding him, the child still stared fixedly at Xie Lian with his big, bright black eye, almost as if he’d been possessed.

Having only made three rounds, didn’t that mean the kingdom would only be protected for three years?!

while performing the ceremony, the Martial Warrior must wear a golden mask to hide his face, because his face could only be appreciated by the gods, and mortals had no right to see it.

“Mu Qing returned and told His Highness that the State Preceptors had been informed, so His Highness performed today under the impression that he had permission. Who knew that the State Preceptor was never told and that we almost ruined the event!”

“Yesterday, an hour after the evening lesson, when the four State Preceptors were resting at Sixiang Palace, this disciple spoke from outside the window,” Mu Qing said.

Although Xie Lian was usually friendly and rarely put on airs when interacting with others at the Royal Holy Temple, he was still nonetheless the esteemed son of the king, the prominent crown prince. Even as he knelt before the statue of a god, he had not shown any humility. So with this sudden turn to sternness, he was authoritative without needing fury.

At the end of the day, something like this happened because the State Preceptors disliked Mu Qing. When they were displeased, the trainee attendants naturally followed their lead—not to mention that Mu Qing himself simply wasn’t very likable. So, not only did fellow trainees avoid helping him, they went out of their way to make things difficult for him at every turn.

the ceremonial attire of the God-Pleasing Martial Warrior was exceedingly strict in every detail. Each accessory and fold had meaning and could never be mismanaged. For example, the outer robe was white, symbolizing divine purity. The inner robes were red, symbolizing canonical tradition. The golden crown that fastened the hair symbolized imperial power and wealth, and the white plumes folded away by the heart symbolized the flight to ascension. Loose corded ribbons along the sleeves symbolized his duties to carry the common people. And so on, and so on.

Throughout history, every God-Pleasing Martial Warrior was adorned in accessories that possessed the form and details of both sexes: earrings, bracelets, and so on. When Xie Lian was preparing for the role, he pierced his ears and put on a pair of earrings.

“It doesn’t really count as stealing, but…” Xie Lian sighed. “I’ll start from the beginning. Do you remember, two years ago when I first entered the Royal Holy Temple, there was a time when I lost a leaf of gold foil?” Hearing this, Feng Xin’s eyes widened, and he slapped his thigh. “It was then?!”

Xie Lian said. “He really did look quite distraught at the time. Pale as a ghost. People here at the Royal Holy Temple already dislike him, so if I had said anything, his life here would be over. Our places in life are different, and we stand at different vantage points in this matter. The consequences can’t be compared.”

Feng Xin snorted dismissively. “You, break up with me? The day after our breakup everyone in the Kingdom of Xianle will know one thing: His Highness the Crown Prince fainted from tying his sock strings too tight while dressing—