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Chapter Text

As Xie Lian walked forward, he saw that every heavenly official coming out of Ling Wen’s Palace Hall dragged out an exceptionally tall stack of paperwork. Their faces were pale; and if they didn’t have an expression that looked as if they were about to collapse, then they had a look of numbness.

When the two of them finally entered the palace hall, Ling Wen turned around and got straight to the point.

“Dianxia, there is a matter in which the Emperor would like to request your help. Are you willing to assist him and lend a helping hand?”

“What matter?”

“Recently, in the North,  a large number of zealous worshippers have been repeatedly praying for blessings. It can be assumed that they aren’t passing their days peacefully.

At present, the Emperor cannot make the trip down to the mortal realm.  If you are willing to take his place and attend to the matter, when the time comes, regardless of how much offerings these zealous worshippers make, everything will be allocated to your altar. What do you think?”

“Many thanks to Ling Wen Zhenjun. I’ll do my best to ensure the matter is successfully resolved.”

“Very well. Then, this scroll, I’ll pass it to you.” 

Pa-ta! 

At this time, the silently-minding-his-own-business junior official standing by  Ling Wen’s side organizing documents suddenly drops the papers in his inkstained hands, his complexion turning white as a ghost.  

…These  civil officials, are too overworked, evidently, being a scrap collector is better than being a scholar!

“…Let me confirm once again. Are you both really voluntarily doing this?”

Looking at those two faces, one more unpleasant than the other, in such a situation, there are only two words to be said: as if! 

“Ahaha, if you’re not, by all means, don’t force yourself ah.”

“I willingly volunteered.”

“I willingly volunteered.”

Agreeing in unison, their chemistry is not bad!

…the only thing is, this pair of little martial gods, are from opposing palaces!!! 

“Let’s first discuss the real work. You guys already know why we came down this time, so I won’t start explaining from the beginning…”

“I don’t know why.”

“Don’t know why.”

“…Then it would be best if I explained everything from the start.”

It was said that many years ago, this place used to be the prosperous royal capital, but empires rise and fall easily…

In any case, there was a bride and a groom who were about to be wed. The couple loved each other very much. This groom, being a scholar who’d just seen his name ranked on the golden list, naturally chose to hold the wedding at a civil god’s temple. 

However, who would’ve expected, the ceremony could not take place! Fortunately, no one suffered any harm, the couple eventually moved away, got married and had children, but, the terrified groom told everyone, that day, when a gust of cold wind pushed open the cloth covering the red sedan, the person sitting in the sedan chair, wearing his bride’s robes and jewelry, was not his wife but a veiled female ghost! 

Since nobody was injured, this matter passed without incident. 

But who would have known that after a few years, another new couple married and the nightmare repeated itself.

Things started to get out of hand ever since then. In the hundred years afterwards, a total of seventeen weddings were unable to proceed in the region.

The strange thing is, some people said what they saw was a voluptuous lady wearing heavy makeup, yet others said they saw a male youth. 

Originally, this situation wouldn’t be communicated to the heavens, after all, one could merely move to a different place to get married and raise children, but it was precisely the seventeenth bride who had a bigshot official for a father.

This father doted on his child; and when he caught wind of this legend, he meticulously selected forty brave and outstanding military officials to escort his daughter to her bridegroom. However, despite all of his preparations, these forty military officials also met the ghost bride, causing his daughter to suffer humiliation. 

After making an uproar, he finally managed to startle a heavenly official. Otherwise, it would have been almost impossible for those tiny, mortal voices to reach a heavenly official’s ear.

“Young lady, what’s wrong? Marrying at such an elderly age, you’re happy to the point of tears?”

Sitting in the sedan carriage, he truly doesn’t know whether to laugh or to cry. 

…it’s better not to cry, lest this makeup gets ruined. 

“It’s not that. I merely realized that this wedding procession is lacking a very important thing.”

“What are we missing?”

“Maids who are accompanying the marriage.”

“…”

Leaning back once more, he closes his eyes to rest, but, it’s really not meant to be. 

“…Nan Feng. Fu Yao.”

“What’s wrong?”

“Do you hear it?”

“Hear what?” 

“Don’t stop. Pretend nothing happened. She’s singing.”

“New bride, new bride, new bride on the red marriage sedan…”

Such a sweet, vivacious and girlish voice, yet, hearing it really makes one’s blood run cold. 

“Eyes brimming with tears, passing the mountain’s mound, under the veil do not…hold the rising smile…ghost bride…”

“My lady, we’re approaching the - watch out!”

“Nan Feng, Fu Yao, take the other people and leave!”

Just now, that youth…if he  wasn’t the ghost bride, why would he come to rob the sedan?

Since he brought me here…this, this is - 

The building in front of his eyes, is not big nor small, as for the structure of this building, with one glance, it’s easy to tell, it’s definitely not from the current dynasty.

Bricks that look conspicuously mottled, the poems painted on the walls…

Sure enough, raising his head, the three big words engraved in the metal on the top of the front door, say: 

Temple of Lord He Sheng! 

A civil god…But, this civil god is nowhere near as worshipped as Ling Wen, whose incense sticks burn prosperously in every scholar’s household. But, this was once the capital… 

Civil gods, while not the most prominent members of upper heaven, as long as there are imperial exams, they will have devotees. Although he cannot recognize He Xuan upon sight, this name is not foreign, this particular official is known to be quite low-profile and dependable, among some of the junior officials, such a saying’s been spread: if Ling Wen is not around, go find He Xuan! 

In addition, given the lack of manpower among the civil gods, his position in the upper court is also very stable…such a deity, would he be willingly involved with a vicious thing like the ghost bride? 

On the other hand, something like unluckily allowing a vicious thing occupy his place when he wasn’t aware of anything isn’t something strange…

However, this temple has long been sealed off by a befuddling array. Could it be…perhaps there’s some connection between the ghost bride and this He Xuan?

Chapter Text

Closed, but not locked. 

Upon pushing open the temple door, a strange odor immediately enters his nostrils, this, is not the normal smell of dust and dirt found in a long-uninhabited place, rather, it’s - 

A rotten stench! 

In the center of the main hall, a deity’s statue stands, modeled very superbly, nothing out of the ordinary about it. Ah, that posture, indeed a civil god! That severe face, the sharp forehead and deep brows are quite familiar, he’s definitely seen this person somewhere before…

Going closer to take a more detailed look, he hastily covers his mouth to stop himself from retching.

The corpse of a whole pig, tied with a red ribbon, its white bones clearly visible, a pair of unrecognizable chickens dripping fresh blood, black, rotted pastries emitting a faint sweet smell…

Even the scarlet cloth on the table, is made up of many different wedding robes placed together, how strange.

Upon the raised altar, the ‘offerings’, are actually an elaborate wedding feast! 

“New bride, new bride, new bride on the red marriage sedan…”

Ta. Ta. Ta.

The abrupt noise coming from outside the temple, is really enough to scare one to death, if one wasn’t an immortal, they’d be on their way to see the ghost king right now! 

This sound, is truly strange, so strange, it’s hard to describe.

Like two sticks drumming the floor while rolled up in thick fabric…but also like there’s something heavy attached to the moving thing, so they’re dragging it across the floor with difficulty. Starting off from far away but moving extremely quickly…

In a flash, that thing’s reached the temple’s front door! 

Being a former martial god, Xie Lian’s reflexes are, of course, fast, seeing no exit at the end of the main hall, the sole option is to roll under the altar to hide and covertly observe. 

Yiii…

A gust of small wind, blows the gate open. 

Ta - Ta - Ta - 

The clopping noise reappears, followed by several footsteps.

With the pauses between each noise, it kind of sounds like a person’s footsteps. However, what kind of thing would have this kind of footstep?

“Eyes brimming with tears, under the veil do not hold a rising smile…crumpled, IT’S CRUMPLED!”

Screeching and kicking up a fuss like this, if one wasn’t aware of the circumstances, this shrill female voice could be easily mistaken for a pampered young mistress! 

“THE TABLECLOTH IS CRUMPLED, HOW DO YOU DO THINGS?!”

“Don’t worry, don’t worry Ol’ Feng, this old one will fix it right away!”

These shadows…

The ghosts who stole my veil from earlier! The bride, sure is short! 

“Walking for so long, my hair’s messy! How am I going to face Ming-xiong now?!”

Ming-xiong? This Ming-xiong, how’s he connected to He Xuan? Also, xiong, this term of address, is usually used between males…

“Nonsense, Ol’ Feng is the prettiest, our family’s Ol’ Feng  is boundlessly talented, funny and carefree, kind and righteous, forever beautiful and young…It moved! My lady, the altar moved!”

“Hahaha, HAHAHAHA! Ming-xiong? Ming-xiong, is that you?! Have you returned to see me!”

“Ol’ Feng, there’s nothing - ” 

Tossing aside food and ripping apart fine silks, generally turning the whole world upside down, in their past life, this person must have been extremely spoilt! Not to mention, sooner or later, if things go on like this, his hiding spot will be exposed!

“MING-XIONG! MING-XIONG, COME OUT!”

“Ruoye, go!”

“Heavenly official! EVERYONE, IT’S A HEAVENLY OFFICIAL!”

“Nan Feng, Fu Yao, quickly come and help me!”

“ATTACK!”

I was waiting for you to say the word.

“Excuse me for this.”

No sooner said than done, taking out a whole lot of veils from inside his sleeves, four or five pieces of cloth promptly begin spinning around in his palms like red flames. 

“HE STOLE THE WEDDING VEILS!”

These beggar spirits, though not formidable, are quite persistent, with  courage to be  applauded!

The moment one charges, going accurately for the head is key - after being covered by a veil, they’ll inevitably start groping around in a sluggish manner, rendering them unable to fight.  

However, even with feet that move unceasingly and hands that don’t rest, he, is just one shackled god! 

While he’d been busy fending off those few, the others have already hopped up - jumping at least seven chi tall and three zhang far! 

Not bad, let me also join you on top! 

“Ling Wen, Ling Wen, the all-knowing!”

“Dianxia, I’m here.”

Call Ling Wen, Ling Wen answers! Truly a top-ranked civil official ah! 

“I have a question. Do you know if a god by the name of Ming has a close female - or male - friend?”

“Your Highness, what are you asking this for?”

“Right now my situation is a bit critical. To tell the truth, there’s currently around ten or so malicious ghosts surrounding me.”

“Ah? That terrible???”

“It’s not that bad. In any case, does he have any? I know this question is fairly personal and hard to answer, so I didn’t ask within the spirit communication array. However, it’s required for my mission, and I definitely wouldn’t divulge the information.”

“Your Highness, you’ve misunderstood. It isn’t that this question is sensitive to answer. No, it’s because in the upper heavens, the only ones going by the name Ming right now, is Earth Master Ming Yi and General Ming Guang. General Ming Guang…has too many female confidantes. When you asked me that question so suddenly, for a while I didn’t know which one you were asking about.”

Hearing that, he nearly twists his ankle! 

“Alright. Then, within General Ming Guang’s close friends, is there someone who’s highly possessive, easily excitable, prone to jealousy, has a disability, and is well-acquainted with the departed spirits of beggars?” 

“…When you say it like that, I actually thought of someone. But, they’re not entangled with Ming Yi, nor General Ming Guang.”

“Then, who is it they’re entangled with?”

“…my subordinate, He Xuan.” 

“Please explain!”

Chapter Text

“Dianxia, this incident which rocked the entire heavens and shook the earth happened in between your second banishment and third re-ascension, naturally, you’d be ignorant of it. 

Several centuries prior, the then-Water Master Wudu and Wind Master Qingxuan were two brothers related by blood, a pair of heavenly officials who had risen from the same house, and at the same time, thus it was something truly extraordinary. 

Shi Wudu ascended first, but after only a few years, his brother Shi Qingxuan also made it through his own heavenly calamity.”

“One becoming the Wind Master and one as the Water Master, two of the five lords of the heavenly elements ascending at the same time, that’s truly a miracle. "

“Whether or not it was a miracle...obviously, the brothers enjoyed and had a good relationship, and were often worshipped together.

The only thing the both of them couldn’t see eye to eye on was the company each other kept. 

The younger brother, Wind Master Qingxuan, was known throughout the heavens for his extravagance - to him, throwing out a hundred thousand merits in a day was simple fare. 

Naturally, this attractive and charming ‘young lord who poured wine’ had no lack of sycophants and admirers, but, he just had to take a fancy to the plank-faced Earth Master Ming Yi!” 

“Ah? But you said - ”

“Dianxia, let me finish. To outsiders, it appeared as if Ming Yi was uninterested in anything except eating good food, yet the Wind Master would relentlessly cling onto and pester this ‘Ming-xiong’, his intimate friend, spending countless merits on him and following him everywhere all day long. 

…As the proverb goes, a strong-willed woman fears a clingy man, some say, the Earth Master was worn down by Shi Qingxuan’s persistence, yet others say, he used honeyed words to fool Wind Master Qingxuan. 

In any case, eventually, the Earth and Wind Masters, this pair of mandarin ducks became engaged to be married. The Water Master, though dissatisfied, ultimately had but one younger sibling, on the ceremony, he spared no expense. 

A pity, the plans of humans cannot be compared to heaven’s plans.” 

“What - what happened?”

“The banquet had already been prepared, a whole table filled with every sort of delicacy from the three realms, the red-veiled bride shining with jewels and covered in gold…however, before the three bows could be completed, in front of the lavishly decorated altar, facing all the guests and the Emperor himself, Earth Master ‘Ming Yi’ revealed his true face - Black Water Sinking Ships, He Xuan.”

“I’m precisely at a temple of Scholar He!” 

“ - Black Water! It’s the Supreme Black Water!”

“Shi Wudu, look at my face. Do you know who I am?”

“…you…you…”

“Noble people really are forgetful. Water Tyrant, how many mortal names and mortal births did you flip through back then to so arduously find the one me? What, you’ve already forgotten how I look like?”

“You’re still alive?!”

“I’m dead!”

“…ge…husband…what’s going on, what’s - ”

“YOU BE QUIET! And you. PROSTRATE!”

“…fine.”

“Did I permit you to get up?!”

“He Xuan. A man must answer to what he has done alone. It was my idea to use you to prevent his misfortune. This has nothing to do with my little brother.”

“Ge, ge, did you really - you really - ”

“Nothing to do with him? That’s right, I must thank  your brother for disregarding blood ties to uphold justice, if not for him offering himself up to my doorstep, I would have spent a few more hundred years before the evidence could be complete!”

“Ha! HAHAHAHAHAHA! So, it  was me…it was me…”

“Enough!”

“Emperor.”

“Emperor.”

“Audacious! Black Water Sinking Ships, impersonating a heavenly official,  in the heavenly court itself, daring  to take matters into your own hands and personally  mete out punishment in front of zhen! This matter, zhen  will deal with!”

“Mother. Father. Sister. Fiancee. For the crime of going against heaven’s will and interfering in affairs of the red earth, like yourself, Dianxia, Water Master Shi Wudu was banished to the mortal realm with a cursed shackle on his person. Till now, there’s been no news of him.

And Wind Master Qingxuan, an ordinary, common mortal who obtained the ability to ascend through unfair means, was stripped of his powers and cast down into the then-royal capital. As mortals say, beauties meet disastrous ends, the formerly glorious Wind Master, reduced to living among beggars, possessed a weak constitution and consequently died young.

As for Scholar He…once the real Ming Yi had been reinstated as Earth Master, the Emperor, being wise and merciful, restored his original fate, assigning him to serve as an official in my palace. 

So, the ghost ascended as a god…this, is not uncommon, it also happened with Crimson - ”

“Wait a moment, wait a moment! This ghost bride is female!”

“In the heavens, the Wind Master would often switch between male and female forms.”

“Then - could you tell me - is Shi Qingxuan disabled?”

“It’s her…”

Ta. Ta. Ta.

“ - this damn young man is too pesky!”

“Hey! OL’ FENG! Didn’t you say you were a god!”

“COME HELP US!”

Nan Feng, Fu Yao, why aren’t you here yet?! 

Coming from behind him, it’s those familiar and strange thumping noises again! Whipping his head around, a very short and small figure enters his line of sight.

Sure enough, it’s like this.

In front of Xie Lian, the short and small woman dressed in vermillion silk, though greeting people with a smiling face, is not at all joyous, this facial expression only makes her look more mournful instead. 

What’s more, the reason she’s short and small isn’t because she’s petite, rather, it’s because of her kneeling on the ground.

A broken arm and a broken leg…she, was walking this entire time using her knees! 

In fact, the weird thumping noises from earlier, must have been caused by this bride’s broken leg as she dragged her leg and hopped around! 

Chapter Text

Between her brows, lies a gaudy flower mark, accentuating a pair of clear and bright pupils. Rosy lips, a buxom figure, not to mention her large…ahem - the Wind Master of yesteryear, she’s really extremely beautiful!

The mouth dyed with rouge, once must have laughed in a carefree manner, yet now, her smile is full of unresolved resentment and misery. 

“Shi Qingxuan?”

“…he sent you to come find me, didn’t he?”

The ‘him’, is undoubtedly Lord He Sheng, seeing the light like a brilliant ghost fire shining in her eyes, even for a seasoned 800 year old martial deity, it’s indeed a bit shocking ah! 

“What about him? Why doesn’t he come to see me himself?”

To destroy a young lady’s hopes and dreams, it’s not too nice…

…Sometimes, remaining silent is an answer in itself, having grown impatient, she pulls her body over to the large statue, the wedding dress spreading out like a blood-red peony at the cold and aloof civil god’s feet. 

“Why won’t he come to see me?”

This - this maiden, you’re asking, but I don’t know the answer either!

“Ming-xiong, don’t you have me in your heart anymore?!” 

Formerly a young lord scattering wine and merits carelessly, now, with her hair in disarray, she asks the heavens - 

“MING XIONG! MING XIONG! I betrayed my big brother for you, I’m willing to give you everything! WHY WON’T YOU COME TO SEE ME!!!”

“Taizi Dianxia.”

The martial god in front of him, is tall and handsome, possessing the aura of a mighty warrior who’s attained victory in a hundred of a hundred battles, yet, once his gaze lands on the female ghost writhing and rolling on the ground, he lowers his eyes and looks away like a guilty thief. 

“That’s General Pei.”

“General Pei?”

Standing a few paces behind him, in a black scholar’s robe, is the junior official from Ling Wen’s palace. 

No wonder these civil officials are so overworked, don’t tell me, every time a disturbance in the mortal realm occurs, they’d have to personally descend to attend to it and whatnot?! 

“Ah, did Ling Wen Zhenjun send you down too? There’s already a martial god to settle the matter, not to mention me, and - ” 

“Thanking Taizi Dianxia for your trouble. Ling Wen Palace Hall notified this one that the situation has rather a lot to do with Lord He Sheng’s temples, so this one…”

Hmm, a sharp forehead and deep brows, black pupils like burning ice, his hair, tied up in a high ponytail, radiating a restrained and distant air…

Other than a pair of long and fine golden earrings, he wears no adornment on his body. 

…the carved image of the god behind the altar, is also adorned with slender earrings. 

“And the one behind him is Lord He.”

Chapter Text

“I thank you for your troubles as well, Lord He.”

Such a solemn and plank-faced man, getting entangled in the  passionate love tragedy of the heavens, it’s quite unbelievable!

As the saying goes, ‘know one, know one’s face, but not one’s heart’! 

Hearing that one title, “Lord He”, Shi Qingxuan, rolling on the floor wrapped up in white bandages, with much effort raises her head, fervently shouting, “MING-XIONG! MING-XIONG YOU’VE COME, YOU’VE FINALLY COME!”

Having been tied up by Ruoye, no matter how wild the former Wind Master is with joy, she can only kneel up. 

“YOU’VE COME JUST IN TIME! LET’S DRINK THE WEDDING WINE TOGETHER!”

Ah, young lady, the spoilt wine you’ve offered, crawling with insects, is not at all appealing!  

Yet, unexpectedly, taking in the sight of the civil god averting his gaze and staring intently at the ground, she instead becomes more agitated. 

“Hahahaha…HAHAHAHAHAHA!”

Laughing and crying nonstop, both the sound of shrill laughter and bitter weeping are piercing to the ear. 

“I wrecked your temples and stirred up trouble in your domain! All in hopes that you’d come pay me a glance! I’ve waited for you for so many years!”

Banging her forehead on the temple’s stone floor, the numerous bridal ornaments in her hair fall like autumn flowers. 

“YET YOU STILL REFUSE TO COME SEE ME, IS IT BECAUSE YOU FEEL GUILT TOWARDS ME?! LOOK AT MY APPEARANCE NOW! IT’S ALL FOR YOU, ALL FOR YOU!!! IS YOUR HEART MADE OF IRON?!”

Scholar He, Ming-xiong, whatever, could you at least act a bit less unmoved?! 

Not paying this vengeful spirit any attention, treating her as wind beside his ears, the whole time, he’s been gazing away. 

“Is it because I’ve fallen to this state?” 

In an instant, she, already of the ‘Wrath’ rank, changes form - could this be the famed Wind Master of yesteryear? 

A male youth with torn clothes and the appearance of a down-and-out beggar, the hair scattered and unbound. Underneath that filthy black hair, a pair of exceedingly bright eyes, brilliant as they were before…

“MING-XIONG! MING-XIONG, WHY WON’T YOU LOOK AT ME?!”

“You’ve called the wrong name.”

If the previous female form could be deemed unsettling, the young male beggar before his eyes causes the indomitable General Ming Guang to react like a mortal who’s seen a ghost. 

“Take him away.”

No sooner said than done, a pair of soldiers pick up the wildly struggling Shi Qingxuan, dragging him away.

“General Pei, may I ask, how will he be dealt with?”

“Restrained beneath a mountain, along with his accomplices.”

“This ghost’s resentment is rather heavy. Since Shi Qingxuan’s constantly thinking about - about the red string of fate between himself and Lord He, I’m afraid that the suppression won’t last long.

“…that will be a problem for later days.” 

“Understood.”

“Then, Taizi Dianxia, I’ll take my leave, to personally escort Qingxuan to the mountain myself.”

Qingxuan? What a familiar term of address…

“Wait.”

A clear and low voice like a river running deep, He Xuan opening his mouth truly demonstrates the ancients’ sayings: a gentleman’s friendship is as insipid as still water! 

“Whatever it is,  he’s caused the people alarm but not harm. Please show him mercy.”

“Hmph. Mercy? Isn’t it a little too late for that?”

Addressing him with a sneer, as if he was a worm underneath his boot, General Ming Guang doesn’t spare his enemies on the battlefield nor with his words. 

“I may have slept with hundreds of women, but at least I’m not a faithless man.”

“Hundreds of women?!”

Beside him, Fu Yao answers. 

“The general is a well-known womanizer.”

General Pei obviously has no leg to stand on and isn’t fit to criticize, why’s he  letting himself be insulted without letting out a word? 

“Hey, Fu Yao, why is General Pei so worked up over an unrelated ghost?”

And, please stop rolling your eyes, I’m afraid they’d really fall out! 

“…The banished Water Master was his bosom friend. When Water Master Wudu was sentenced, he went to the extent of kowtowing to ask the heavenly emperor for leniency, fulfilling his duty of loyalty to his sworn brother. 

It’s said that till now, Ol’ Pei’s still trying to find him, naturally, he holds himself responsible for the younger sibling being reduced to this state, unable to reincarnate in peace.”

“…I see. Also, how did the Wind Master injure his arm and leg?”

“This…no one except he himself knows.”

Having been openly insulted, not a trace of visible anger shows on He Xuan’s face. 

“General Ming Guang. This fan…return it to him.”

The exquisite silk fan in his hands, split in half and carefully mended, bearing the ‘Wind’ character on the front and three lines representing the wind on the back, is certainly a rare spiritual device, giving it to an imprisoned ghost with a grudge against him - does he have a death wish?! 

Looks like He Xuan  still has some feelings  towards his old flame.

Is it  love, pity or resentment,  who knows?

“Zhenjun, your subordinate has returned.”

“Official He, the presence of a fierce ghost, going about destroying your temples, sowing fear amongst the common people and causing you to lose a sizable number of believers over the past few centuries, this matter, how come it’s only been brought up to my attention now?”

“…answering Ling Wen Zhenjun, this one misplaced the scroll.” 

Chapter Text

At the base of the mountain.

“Gege, be careful.”

Here, it’s dark and ominous, the former flower crowned martial god is not one to suspect the deities and the ghosts, but, the closer they go, the more he feels the sensation of pairs after pairs of eyes watching his every move. 

Crack! 

Ai, what ill luck, what ill luck, if not for San Lang’s arm around his waist, this crown prince would have tripped and landed with his face chewing mud! 

Haiya, he, actually managed to step on - 

A human hand!!!

“Gege, watch out!”

“SCOUNDREL! These old bones ain’t what they used to be, are you trying to murder me?!”

“STOP CAUSING A RUCKUS! There’re ghosts trying to sleep over here! Aren’t you already dead!”

“A-Niang…A-Niang…”

“SHUT YOUR MOUTHS, YOU’RE SCARING THE CHILD!”

…When one awakens, the rest follow, since the snakes in the grass have already been alarmed, lighting up a palm torch will do no harm!

Lying all over the ground, the band of homeless ghosts in ragged clothing - men, women, seniors, and children, none of them shy from the improper closeness - seem to be displeased, this can be understood, the mountain air is frigid, the earth cold, it’s not easy to fall asleep, wandering the world as a beggar, it’s better to be sleeping than to be awake.  

“YOU WRETCH - ” 

“Sorry, we’ve been rude - ” 

“GHOST! AH AH AHHHH GHOST ~ GHOST!” 

“Eh…aren’t you all spirits as well?”

“G-GHOST KING…CRIMSON RAIN!!! Mercy - have mercy…”

“Hehe…San Lang, looks like your reputation has traveled far and wide.”

“Don’t be alarmed, we have no ill intentions…we’re looking for Shi Qingxuan…”

“You! Ain’t you the one who helped those heavenly scoundrels seal Ol’ Feng away! Ah - ahahaha, Lord Crimson Rain, don’t be mad, this lowly servant will - will lead you there right now!” 

“Wind Master Qingxuan.”

Trapped under a mountain, his spiritual powers restrained, the ostentatious ghost bride form cannot be maintained. 

Grimy-faced, skinny and gaunt…so, this was how Shi Qingxuan died. 

“IT’S YOU! HEAVENLY OFFICIAL! Did - did my husband send a message?”

Hai, his heart for Lord He has yet to die. 

“We’ve brought food to offer to you and your subordinates.”

“FOOD? Why didn’t ya say so earlier?!”

“Ain’t no free meal in this world! Whaddaya want?! Spit it out!”

“HAHAHAHAHA! My husband knows his wrongs, he’s trying to send gifts to appease me! Eat, eat! Everyone, eat!” 

…Hehe, if he wants to interpret it that way…it’s fine as well…

But, although Shi Qingxuan already said to eat, the big pile of meat buns, not a single arm reaches out to snatch. 

“Haiya Ol’ Feng, care for yourself first.” 

Having spoken, the elderly lady ghost chooses a large and round bun, presenting it to the Shi Qingxuan with bound arms and legs. 

Right, his shackled limbs, it’s not convenient… 

“Hehe, thanking popo! Ahhh ~ ”

Opening his mouth for popo to place the bun inside, like a grandson acting cute, in this moment, his voice actually sounds fairly young.

“Wind Master Qingxuan, I’m seeking for help right now. Can everyone give me a hand?”

Chapter Text

“GIVE‌ ‌YOUR‌ ‌MOM‌ ‌A‌ ‌HAND!‌ ‌AND‌ ‌I‌ ‌WANT‌ SOMEONE‌ ‌TO‌ ‌GIVE‌ ‌ME‌ ‌A‌ ‌HAND‌ ‌TOO!‌ ‌YA‌ ‌GONNA‌ ‌LET‌ ‌US‌ ‌SLEEP‌ ‌OR‌ ‌WHAT,‌ ‌GET‌ ‌OUTTA‌ ‌HERE!”‌ ‌ ‌

‌“It’s‌ ‌something‌ ‌very‌ ‌urgent,‌ ‌if‌ ‌everyone‌ ‌is‌ ‌willing‌ ‌to‌ ‌help‌ ‌out,‌ ‌then‌ ‌you’ll‌ ‌for‌ ‌sure…‌for‌ ‌sure‌ ‌bring‌ ‌prosperity‌ ‌to‌ ‌the‌ ‌world!”‌ ‌ ‌

‌“WHAT  THE‌ ‌HELL‌ ‌DOES‌ ‌PROSPERITY‌ ‌OF‌ ‌THE‌ WORLD‌ ‌HAS‌ ‌GOT‌ ‌TO‌ ‌DO‌ ‌WITH‌ ‌ME??”‌ ‌ ‌

“YEAH! Is there compensation?”

A bunch of minor ghosts forgotten by heaven and mortals alike, broke in life and without a roof over their heads after death, of course, the prosperity of the world isn’t any of their concern! 

“Gege, let’s not waste our breaths.” 

“Not‌ ‌yet.‌ ‌I’ll‌ ‌take‌ ‌my‌ ‌time‌ ‌to‌ ‌persuade‌ ‌them, we‌ ‌can’t‌ ‌use‌ ‌force‌ ‌or‌ ‌temptation.‌ There‌ ‌must‌ ‌be‌ ‌- there must be a way.” 

“Everyone! The heavenly capital is under attack! We need five hundred volunteers who are willing to protect the capital. Who is willing? I won’t lie, there might be danger. I will never force anyone, I only ask for the willing!”

Immediately, the assorted sounds of shouting die down, leaving only a blanket of silence within the whole mountain. 

You looking at me, me looking at you - everyone keeps looking at each other, but who would step forward and say they’re willing?

“Protect the heavenly capital? Forget it.”

Glancing over, the man who spoke, slumped over against a pile of soil trying to make himself comfortable mumbles to half to himself, half to Xie Lian. 

“The heavens don’t protect me, ha, and they’d have me protect them? Do whatever you want, it’s none of my fucking business!”

Hai. 

Clearly, this place is crowded with the same poor and suffering as that man, who think the same.

Since there’s no compensation and the heavens everyday only seek to exterminate their kind, who would want to go help at a time like this?

“If the heavenly capital is invaded, there will be no peace under heaven, chaos in the mortal realm. Everyone would be affected.”

“Then why not just leave this place, eh? We don’t gotta stay here, Ol’ Feng can take us to the ghost realm!”

“Let those mighty, distinguished old master and lady cultivators, those deities in the heavens go. Someone will go, why must it be us?”

“Well...”

Precisely, those mighty, distinguished gods and cultivators will also think the same thing: I won’t go, someone will surely go! 

It wasn’t that this mentality was wrong, that it was bad, it was just if everyone thought this way, then nothing could be accomplished.

“Alright. Sorry for the intrusion.”

“Don’t worry, gege, I’ve got people on the move on my side too. The news has been spread, we should be able to find people.”

“Mn.”

To be honest, the worry is not that five hundred can’t be found, rather that there isn’t enough time…

“WAIT! WAIT WAIT WAIT!”

This voice, lively  and slightly raspy… it’s Shi Qingxuan! 

“…the heavenly capital…Ming - Lord He, is he - is he - ”

“That’s right.”

Taking advantage of the chaos to move closer, he, quietly whispers next to Shi Qingxuan’s ear. 

“Lord Wind Master, the heavenly capital is under attack, Lord He Sheng is in there.”

“The people you seek, broken limbs won’t be a problem, right?”

The restrained Shi Qingxuan, bound with shackles, unable to move even a wrist or a foot, voluntarily came forward? 

“Completely not a problem! One as powerful as yourself is welcome to join!”

“Then we’re good! Take me along – I’LL GO!”

“WHAT ARE YOU DOING??? DIDN’T YOU HEAR HIM, IT COULD BE DANGEROUS!”

“YEA! ISN’T THAT THE FAITHLESS MAN WHO ABANDONED YOU?! OL’ FENG, DON’T GO!”

“DON’T INVOLVE YOURSELF IN THAT MUDDY WATER, COME BACK, OL’ FENG!”

Though not ranked among the four mighty Supremes, Shi Qingxuan has some devoted subordinates… 

“You! Heavenly official! Quick, free me, my husband is waiting!”  

The former Wind Master, despite throwing words around flippantly like merits, is a person of who keeps their word, once freed, he doesn’t try to run. 

Waving one hand to hail at the crowd, all the other beggars indeed listen to him, the sound of cussing and yelling slowly fades.

“I’M GOING NOW, A VIRTUOUS WIFE GOING TO SAVE MY BELOVED HUSBAND, I’M LEAVING, I’M LEAVING! ANYONE ELSE COMIN’?”

“Alright, fine. If it’s Ol’ Feng’s husband then it’s different.”

“Let’s go along with Ol’ Feng, lest he gets beaten to death by someone, the way he’s missing an arm and a leg!”

“HEY!”

“…is there really no compensation? Even if there’s no pay, a chicken leg to munch on would be fine too?”

The one saying this, is a young mother holding onto a child ghost of not more than seven years old, while hugging an infant to her chest. 

“Ai, Hua Chengzhu and this heavenly official here, I can understand that we can’t use force or temptation for this business, but giving everyone a bite to eat should be fine? Everyone hasn’t had a good meal in a long time.”

“As long as they didn’t hold a greedy heart, it won’t be a problem. But, Lord Wind Master, could I trouble you to say it this way?”

“Ai, got it, got it! HEY EVERYBODY! AFTER THIS IS DONE, THEY’RE GONNA TREAT EVERYONE TO A BOWL OF CHICKEN LEG SOUP LATER, HEY! EVERYONE GETS A BOWL WHETHER YOU COME OR NOT! ATTENTION, YOU’D GET ONE EVEN IF YOU DON’T GO, WE ONLY ASK FOR VOLUNTEERS!”

Now the way he phrased it was crafty. 

“Everyone gets a bowl”, everyone gets to eat whether they go or not, making the ones who decide to come immensely valuable! 

“ANYONE ELSE COMING? THE MORE THE MERRIER! COME COME COME! TELL EVERYONE THERE’S NO PAY, HEY! IT’S JUST GIVING ME A HAND, SAVING THE WORLD, THE HEAVENLY CAPITAL OR WHATEVER IS JUST WHATEVER, BUT WE ONLY WANT VOLUNTEERS! WE’LL TREAT EVERYONE TO A GOOD MEAL AFTER THIS IS DONE!”

Although not a martial god, in terms of mustering up forces, Shi Qingxuan would not lose to the legendary generals in history books, in a blink of an eye, the cold and indifferent ghosts have suddenly become as hot as fire! 

“OL’ FENG, OL’ FENG! WE’VE DRAGGED THIS MANY OF US FOR YA, WHAT DO YOU THINK?”

“GOOD WORK! EVERYONE GETS A CHICKEN LEG!”

“There’s so many ghosts, will they be able to afford to feed all of us?”

Sweeping a hand, for a moment, it seems like the young lord of yesteryear is about to toss out a hundred thousand merits. 

“THIS IS NOTHING! NEVER MIND THIS MANY, THEY CAN AFFORD TO FEED EVEN TEN TIMES THE AMOUNT!”

Counting roughly, there’s actually now more than two hundred gathered, completely outside of expectations!

“Lord Wind Master, this is a great help!”

“Hold on. THERE’S ONE MORE THING I WANT!”

“W-Wind Master Qingxuan?” 

If the condition is that after the battle, Lord He Xuan has  to marry him to repay the  debt of saving his life, such a thing could be  impossible to fulfill…

“Not from you! Hey, Hua Chengzhu, if anything happens to me, you have to give all of them a place to stay in Ghost City! The children, the aged, the ones not present to help too!”

“Mn.”

“GOOD! GOOD! THE GREAT HUA CHENGZHU HAS PROMISED, EVERYBODY HERE WILL BE MY WITNESS! LET’S GO!”

“NONSENSE! NONSENSE! OL’ FENG, NOTHING WILL HAPPEN TO YOU!”

“But of course! I can call forth hundreds no matter where I go, I am the beggar king!”

“Ol’ Feng’s swanking again!”

“What! I’m not swanking!”

“YEA RIGHT!”

“I’ve no time to listen to you all talk nonsense, leave your mouths for munching chicken legs!”

Listening to them quietly, his heart, feels as if it’s been crumpled into a ball but at the same time, also laid out open and easy like rice paper.

“Lord Wind Master…it was inconvenient to give it to you before, but…General Ming Guang entrusted me to pass this to you…from Lord He…”

Staring and staring at the closed fan, his gaze seemingly wishing to pierce a hole through it, Shi Qingxuan hesitates for a while. 

“Hahaha…HAHAHAHA!“

Lifting his head, with a snap, he flicks the divine weapon open.

“WIND, RISE!”

Chapter Text

The heavenly capital.

‘Former prosperity utterly extinguished’, ‘palaces and towers reduced to ash’, after the fighting, the once splendid court, envy of the mortals, is utterly unrecognizable, even beggar ghosts wouldn’t bother to take advantage of the fire to clean it out! 

“AY, SHOW’S OVER, STOP GAWKING, HURRY UP AND LEAVE THIS WRETCHED PLACE!”

“EVERYONE’S ACCOUNTED FOR, SAFE AND SOUND, THANK THE HEAVENS AND EARTH, LET’S GO HOME AND EAT!” 

“HEY, YOU, BROKE HEAVENLY OFFICIAL! NOW CRIMSON RAIN’S DISAPPEARED WITHOUT A TRACE, DON’T FORGET, YOU STILL OWE US OUR CHICKEN LEGS!”

Since it’s none of their business, nevermind the destroyed buildings and giant wreckage, this bunch sure is in high spirits!  

“UNCLE CAI, AUNT SIX, GRANNY WANG, LIL NIU! QUICK! OL’ FENG - OL’ FENG?”

“WHERE’S OL’ FENG?!”

“OL’ FENG, YOU LITTLE RASCAL, WHERE ARE YOU!” 

“OL’ FENG! OL’ FENG, COME OUT! THIS - THIS ISN’T FUNNY!”

“Here.” 

A black-clad junior official, face covered in ash.  

In his burnt and bloody hands, a tiny green ghost fire. 

Beside his kneeling body, in the rubble, the remains of a broken fan, the Feng character in the middle ripped in two.

“ - Ol’ Feng…Ol’ Feng…”

“OL’ FENG, COME BACK! AREN’T YOU HUNGRY, WE’VE SAVED YOU THE BEST PORTION!” 

“THE CHICKEN LEG, I DON’T WANT IT ANYMORE, OL’ FENG, HURRY UP AND COME BACK!”

“DIDN’T YOU SAY YOU’D TREAT US TO A WEDDING BANQUET?! YOU - YOU’RE NOT ALLOWED TO BE SWANKING AGAIN!”

“YOU!” 

Popo, in her old age, is truly unafraid of gods and men, blatantly using her fists on a civil god belonging to the Ling Wen palace, while screaming like an aggrieved mother. 

“YOU HEARTLESS CAD!” 

The hotheaded Uncle Cai who can’t stay out of trouble, also joins in to give him a tight slap. 

“SOME HEAVENLY OFFICIAL! NEEDING A GHOST TO PROTECT YOU!”

“OL’ FENG JUST WANTED ONE LOOK, ONE  GLANCE FROM YOU!”

“THESE HUNDREDS OF YEARS, HOW COME YOU’VE NEVER BOTHERED TO VISIT ONCE, NOW YOU’RE IN TROUBLE, YOU - YOU DARE - YOU SHAMELESS THING!”

“GO TO HELL! FUCK YOU AND YOUR EIGHTEEN GENERATIONS!”

“EVEN IF YOU KNEEL AND KOWTOW A THOUSAND TIMES, IT’S NO USE!”

“I - I’ll bring him back.” 

“Lord He, now everything’s over, do you have any plans?” 

“Bring him back with me. Nurture the ghost fire.” 

Chapter Text

After the heavenly capital was destroyed, the scattered, jumbled up heavenly officials finally regathered, and set up a ward at the summit of Mount Taicang, a place where no mortals cared for, establishing a temporary upper court.

However, the unfortunate thing was, not only did that major fire scorched all the glorious and exuberant golden palaces of all the heavenly officials, forcing them to squeeze together and erect tents temporarily to discuss and rest, all the scrolls and reports were lost in great numbers.

Without Ling Wen Zhenjun there  to sort things out, the responsibility fell to none other than her longsuffering junior officials! 

During the long night, the scholar, in his sleeping attire, surrounded by stacks and stacks of paperwork, tallies accounts and painstakingly writes reports word by word, stroke by stroke, by his side, only the glimmer of a small and weak ghost fire to keep him company. 

“Sorry.” 

《Three years later》

He Xuan Palace Hall.

“HE-XIONG!!!”

Amidst the crowd of serious civil officials running around, the green and white robes of a bright youth stands out. 

Seated on a wheelchair as elaborate as a throne, he is evidently not a scholar, his loose haired appearance not a bit decorous, unrestrained as the spring winds. 

“Isn’t it boring spending the whole day reading papers and writing?!”

Seeing Lord He give no response, this little ghost continues to pester shamelessly. 

“If you’re not bored, I’m bored!”

“…Talking so much, make yourself useful. Help me grind ink.” 

“Hmph!”

As expected, the sight of the four treasures of the study causes even ghosts to flee - ah, what’s this?

Heavens, present days are not like past times, who knows, maybe tomorrow, the Generals Ju Yang and Xuan Zhen might make up! 

The reformed Shi Qingxuan, he actually - he actually started to obediently grind the ink, thick as black water, with one hand, pouting and grousing as he grinds! 

Chapter Text

On the day of the Shangyuan Festival, Ghost City is the busiest place in all three realms, since Hua Chengzhu returned in a rain of silver butterflies, every year, on this day, whether ghost, god or former heavenly official, the residents living here will light lanterns to send to the sky, wishing for peace, happiness or love.

Together, thousands upon ten thousands of lit lanterns illuminate the city, so brightly it’s said even the heavens above can see. 

“Ol’ Feng! You’re back!” 

“EVERYONE! GATHER ROUND, GET OVER HERE! OL FENG’S RETURNED!”

“AI, EVERYBODY! DID YOU MISS ME?!”

“Missed you, missed you much Feng gege!”

“Hm, this little one has a honeyed tongue!”

“You sure lack loyalty, disappearing for three whole years at a time!”

“That’s right, popo was scared to death!” 

“Ah, don’t be like that! This ancestor admits it’s my fault, I, OL’ FENG, PROMISE IT’LL NEVER HAPPEN AGAIN!”

“Pei pei pei! Inauspicious words, inauspicious words, stop speaking, stop speaking!” 

“Hehe, popo, I won’t dare anymore! These few years, how has everyone been?” 

“That Hua Chengzhu, must’ve been scared of our Ol’ Feng’s prowess, the Crimson Rain Sought Flower actually kept his word and let the lot of us settle down right here!” 

“Wa, the babies have toys, everyone has nice new clothes…ahaha, I don’t even have the face to say it, but following this old beggar around for centuries, you all have only gotten rotten food and raggedy attire, maybe following Crimson Rain might’ve been better, haha!”

“Nonsense, nonsense! How can this be his credit?! Some martial deity with too much time on his hands after eating his fill has been leaving gold bars about the city like a fool, thanks to years of following Ol’ Feng about and robbing bridal sedans, our fingers were quick enough to snatch ourselves a share! Ai, Ol’ Feng, that cane looks fancy…jewels here and pearls there, did you also manage to snatch yourself something in the upper heavens, hehehe!”

“Coming back, aren’t you starving?! We have money now, the markets in Ghost City have all sorts of food, we’ll take you around!”  

“Aiya, no need, no need to spend too much! Keep the money for yourselves, I have food back at the palace!”

“Tsch! Is that unfaithful groom treating you well?!”

“Yeah, Ol’ Feng’s lost weight! That civil god with a dead and lifeless aura, you can tell he’s miserly, he hasn’t been feeding you, that rascal!”

“IF HE BULLIES YOU, I, UNCLE CAI, WILL - ”

“Aiyo, don’t worry, don’t worry! I’m doing well, really doing well…hahahaha…”

A plate of roast meat, a bowl of hot, steaming rice, plate after plate of seafood delicacies, cakes, snacks and immortal peaches, a small feast prepared for one. 

“Offerings. For you. Eat.”

“He-xiong! Such a downer. I want you to feed me!” 

Empires shift but people do not change, this Shi Qingxuan, full of antics, is the best at throwing out these sorts of flowery tricks. 

“…open up.” 

“Hehe, hehe! Mm, the peach is indeed more fragrant from He-xiong’s hands!”