Work Text:
It was the monthly conference in Heaven. All Heavenly Official’s were in attendance. All except for the Civil Goddess, Zunzhong. She was currently busy on a mission in the Mortal Realm so her head deputy was in her stead. Pigu Teng was an incredibly intelligent, so Xie Lian was sure they would all have a successful conference.
Xie Lian had taken over the responsibilities of Emperor that Jun Wu had left open after his imprisonment. He was the Emperor in everything but title and everyone in the Heavens seem to be content with that so no one argued.
So as the meeting dragged on he was now having a conversation with Feng Xin and Mu Qing, who were standing at either side of him, and the second ascended, Shi Qingxuan. It was a discussion about their respective territories and element, until Pigu Teng decided to interrupt.
‘Your Highness the Crown Prince,’ Pigu Teng called for Xie Lian’s attention. ‘You speak of the southwest and southeast as if you live there. Not to mention the element of wind. You can’t control it like second ascended Lord Wind Master can yet you pretend to know all about it.’
‘How dare you speak to his highness like that?!’ Feng Xin slammed his hands down on the conference table.
‘Yeah,’ Mu Qing said cooly. ‘You’re just an official from the middle court. You can’t speak to the Crown Prince like that.’
Xie Lian raised his hands, stopping them from continuing. ‘Deputy Pigu Teng, although I’ve never visited the southwest and southeast, I’ve read quite a lot about both territories, as well as General Xuan Zhen and General Nan Yang’s reports. As for the element of wind, I’ve found myself caught up in some of the Wind Master’s sand storms and tornadoes. I also have researched quite a lot about them as well.’
Pigu Teng didn’t seem quite satisfied with that answer. ‘One can’t come to a full understanding of certain territories by just reading about them, You Highness,’ he jabbed. ‘One must actually live there to fully comprehend how those territories would fair.’
Xie Lian nods, ‘I see where you’re coming from but, I wonder if you would come up with an example so that we may all come to the same understanding.’
‘Of course,’ he said quickly. He had already come up with the perfect example. ‘Take Ghost City and it’s Hua Chengzhu.’
‘The city is a meeting point for both ghosts, demons and humans; upon occasions. But wouldn’t it be better if the Ghost City closed it’s doors for good? Never opening up again and getting dragged back into Ghost Realm. It would greatly benefit everyone in the Heavens,’ he said far too casually. ‘And their Hua Chengzhu should never set foot in the Mortal or Heavenly Realm ever again. It would do everyone in both realms so good. No longer would a scourge like him be wandering around.’
All the Heavenly Officials, from Pei Ming and Quan Yizhen to Shi Qingxuan, Mu Qing and Feng Xin, looked at Xie Lian. His once warm and bright aura had turned cold and dark, like a damp and desolate cave. And his smile had slipped off his face, making way for a deep frown. As for the look in his eyes, the look he had could and did rival that of Hua Cheng’s. Cold, dark, bloody, and merciless.
Xie Lian raises two fingers to his mouth and whistles. It was loud and sharp. Instantaneously, the doors slam open and then a blood curdling scream pierces the air like the well placed slash of a sword. There at the end of the table, closest to the door, was Pigu Teng, screaming, howling in pain.
When one search why that was so, one would see the Saber E’Ming impaling his hand into the wooden table. It’s ruby red eye looking everywhere crazily, unable to focus on one god. Eventually it’s gaze landed on Xie Lian, but E’Ming wasn’t the only one looking at him. Xie Lian was being stared at by every single Heavenly Official in the room. From his friends to mere acquaintances. All they did was look at him, eyes shot open and mouths a gasped.
Xie Lian slightly laughed, ‘Now, let’s go back to the discussion at hand, shall we?’ They all nodded but moved closer to the center of the table, practically breathing onto each other’s necks. Normally, they would all be screaming at the closeness but no one wanted to be standing next to Xie Lian for fear of being glared at by him, and no one was crazy enough to stand next to the dreaded Saber E’Ming.
It was safe to say, no one ever spoke badly about Hua Cheng again. No one wanted to be on the receiving end of Xie Lian’s wrath.