This child was no older than seven or eight, and quite the gaunt and small creature.
Falling from such a height, his little body was shaking uncontrollably in his arms like a
newborn of an animal. However, from that mess of bandages wrapped around his head
peaked a large eye black in color, reflecting the shadow of a snow-white figure within,
watching him unblinkingly as if he could no longer see anything else.
Loud gasps were heard from all around, and when Xie Lian raised his head, his heart
sank. In his peripheral vision he saw lying on the ground not far away a golden object.
The golden mask that hid his face had fallen.
Xie Lian had landed in the middle of the Martial Deity Avenue, and the ceremonial
parade was miles behind him, the procession not having made it that far yet. The
sudden commotion broke the steady march of the warriors, the flower tossing celestial
fairies looked panicked, the golden carriages stopped, a number of white stallions
stomped their hooves and neighed in alarm, and the strings missed notes and their
rhythms disrupted. Some kept going, and some stopped. Without being able to
coordinate their march again, the entire situation was going out of control. The crowd on
both sides of the street still haven't had the chance to react, but the King of Xianle upon
the towering platform stood up immediately, watching his son's silhouette, his
expression worried and grave.
The moment he stood, how could the rest of the nobles remain seated? So they all rose
to their feet in a frenzy. Guoshi's bottom had only just warmed his seat but now it's cold
again. He was rapidly thinking whether if he needed to prostrate on all fours
immediately to beg for forgiveness, and Qi Rong had already leapt onto the railing, his
sleeves rolled up, shouting in rage, "WHAT'S GOING ON NOW? WHAT'S
HAPPENING? WHY DID THE PROCESSION FALL INTO CHAOS? WHAT THE HELL
ARE YOU USELESS TRASH DOING? DID YOU ALL EAT NOTHING BUT PLAIN
RICE, SO DUMB YOU CAN'T EVEN HOLD YOUR HORSES???"
The queen's face was pale, her brows slightly knitted, and hurriedly sent for another to
drag him back. The crowds were growing agitated and a riot was about to erupt when
just then, Xie Lian rose to his feet.
Usually, the honourable Crown Prince was hidden deep within the palace or training at
the Royal Holy Pavilion, and 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. Seeing his face, they all held their breaths. That young man had long brows and
charming eyes, dignified and handsome, radiating nobility, his aura blindingly bright,
forcing down the eyes of those looking. With the child in one arm, he raised the other
with the sword in hand, and pointed it to the grand stage.
That ghost had been observing the situation from above the stage, and seeing that
gesture, he paused for a moment before leaping off the ground.
The crowd wowed in amazement as the ghost, his form like a streak of black cloud, flew
across mid air to the stone pillar where the saber was deeply embedded, pulled it out
from the crack, then flipped again, landing in the middle of the street before the martial
warrior.
Seeing that he instantaneously understood his intentions and came forth to cooperate,
Xie Lian lauded under his breath, "Good Mu Qing!"
Now both the God-Pleasing Martial Warrior and the ghost had descended the stage.
One black one white, saber and sword clashed once again, heightening the excitement,
electrifying the crowd. Upon the towering platform, the faces of nobles finally relaxed,
looking appeased.
The ghost made the act to aim for the child in the warrior's arms, both hands holding the
saber, gripping it to the side and rushed towards Xie Lian. The two faked parrying,
moves after moves, strike after strike, and leapt back onto stage anew. While the crowd
was distracted, Mu Qing used the chance to do a somersault on the street, grabbed the
mask, then dashed through the procession crying in a low voice, "Don't scramble!
Compose yourselves! Pretend nothing's happened and continue the march! Finish
marching this round and return to the palace!"
All within the procession immediately steadied and returned to their own posts, their
spirits renewed. The moment Mu Qing returned on stage, his attacks became even
more vigorous, clinking and clanking, Xie Lian received more slashes. Just then, the
child in his arms cried out, probably terrified by being stuck between the clashing
weapons. Xie Lian's left hand held him tighter and whispered, "Don't be scared!"
Hearing his words, the small child gripped on to the folds of his clothes by the chest.
Even with a child in one arm and the other hand handling the sword, Xie Lian was still
fighting with ease. Parrying for another while, he felt the child in his arms raise his
trembling arms and grabbed hold of his shoulders in a deadly grip, as if he's hanging on
for dear life. Xie Lian soothed again, "Don't worry, nothing will hurt you."
After speaking those words, Xie Lian called in a low voice, "Mu Qing!"
The ghost facing him inconspicuously inclined his head, and Xie Lian struck.
Thus, before the eyes of millions, the God-Pleasing Martial Warrior pierced the heart of
the ghost, slaying it on the spot!
Mu Qing, with his ghost mask on, clutched his 'wound', stumbled back a few steps,
struggled for a moment before finally thud falling to the ground, and stopped moving.
Above on the platform Qi Rong laughed out loud, applauding, "DEAD! HE'S DEAD!
COUSIN CROWN PRINCE HAS SLAIN THE GHOST DEAD!"
While all this was happening, the magnificent Heavenly Procession had continued to
march, and soon moved onto the path back to the palace. Because of how well the act
was saved and the unexpected improvised act was exhilarating to watch, not only did
the people not complain, but rather their excitement grew even stronger. Countless
within the crowd were shouting "Your Highness", hollering "God", and followed behind
the grand stage, thousands and millions rushing to the palace. A few of the generals
had to send out many more troops of warriors and soldiers to block the overly excited
people. However, in the end they still couldn't hold them back, and the crowd broke
through, pushing themselves towards the palace gates.
The King of Xianle called from the top of the towering platform, "Guards! Warriors!"
At the same time, the hundreds within the procession all had re-entered the palace, and
the giant crimson gates closed soundly shut after the grand stage, the colorful banners
of the performance now out of sight. The people rushed the gates, knocking and
slapping upon it, their cheers ringing to the heavens.
Inside the tightly closed palace gates, upon the grand stage, the white clad
God-Pleasing Martial Warrior and the black clad ghost both threw their weapons onto
the ground in two clanking sounds, and collapsed heavily on the ground.
Xie Lian was covered in sweat, and ripped open layers and layers of his elegant
costume, and exhaled deeply, "That was close. Too close. I'm exhausted."
Mu Qing also removed his heavy ghost mask, and let out a long breath silently, but
didn't complain about being tired.
When he looked over, he saw Xie Lian was still holding onto that young child, and
frowned wordlessly. Feng Xin on the other hand, called out as he followed after the
grand stage in a jog, "Your Highness, what are you doing bringing the child in too?"
That young child was lying over Xie Lian's chest, his small body frozen and unmoving,
afraid to even breathe loudly. Xie Lian sat up, "What was I to do, throw him back out on
the streets? It's a mess out there, he's such a tiny creature he'd get trampled to death."
He held up the small child and patted his head, asking casually, "How old are you, little
guy?"
That child didn't blink, and his lips uttered no sounds. Xie Lian continued his query, his
tone soothing, "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.
Xie Lian patted the head of that young child again, but the unresponsive child made him
lose interest, so he stopped patting. "So silly." Xie Lian commented. "Feng Xin, go find
someone to take him out through the side doors when you get a chance, see if he's
injured, his head is wrapped in bandages."
"Alright." Feng Xin extended his hand, "Give him here."
Xie Lian held the young child up and passed him over, but before he could do so, Feng
Xin said, "Your Highness, why haven't you let go?"
"I did let go?" Xie Lian was puzzled, but when he looked down, he laughed
exasperatedly. Turns out it was the child who was still gripping tightly onto his clothes
refusing to let go.
A few were taken aback and started laughing out loud. While training at the Royal Holy
Pavilion, so many devoutees, men and women alike, tried their hardest to get a glimpse
of Xie Lian, whether it be out of curiosity or devotion. But once they've seen him once,
they'd want to see him again, if they could train next to him then even better. They
couldn't believe that a child at such a young age would also be the same. Guarding
around the grand stage were many young trainees from the Royal Holy Pavilion, and
they all snickered, "Your Highness, this child doesn't want to leave!"
Xie Lian also laughed, "Is that right? That won't do. I've got my own things to do. Go
home, little kid."
Hearing this, that child finally loosened his grip slowly, letting go of his clothes, and
Feng Xin picked him up. Even when the person holding him was now Feng Xin, the
child was still staring at Xie Lian with his large, dark eye, looking as if he was
possessed. Many who was witnessing this started muttering silently, noting that intense
stare. Xie Lian himself however, wasn't even looking at the child anymore, and only
spoke to Feng Xin directly, "Don't pick him up like you're picking up trash, you're scaring
him."
Feng Xin put the child back down on the ground, "Enough joking around. Guoshi is
freaking out. Your Highness better think about how you're going to face him later."
Hearing this, everyone stopped laughing.
An hour later, at the Royal Holy Pavilion, on the Martial Deity Summit, inside the Great
Martial Hall.
Clouds of incense wafted in the air, and the sound of chanting came in waves. Guoshi
and three other Deputy Guoshi sat in a line by the side wall within the great hall, their
faces clouded, and Mu Qing was kneeling before them. Xie Lian was also kneeling, but
before him was no one but the golden statue of the the Great Martial God. Feng Xin
followed his master, and knelt behind him.
Guoshi picked up that exquisitely crafted golden mask, and after a moment he heaved a
heavy sigh, "Your Highness, Your Highness."
Even when kneeling Xie Lian's back was straight, his posture perfect and his head
raised, "Present."
Guoshi looked pained, "Do you know that in the history of Xianle, having held so many
ShangYuan Heavenly Ceremonial Processions, never once did the grand stage only
circle the capital thrice. Thrice!"
Every ritual of the ShangYuan Heavenly Ceremonial Procession, every decoration of
every place, had a meaning behind them. To have the grand stage circle the capital
once symbolized the kingdom's prayer for the peace and happiness of the people for
one year; thus, however many rounds the grand stage made meant however many
years another such grand ceremony need not take place. Not only signified good
fortune, it also saved money. Having only made three rounds, didn't that mean the
kingdom would only be protected for three years???
The worst thing on top of that was the golden mask on the face of the God-Pleasing
Martial Warrior had fallen mid-ritual.
Since ancient times, the people of Xianle had believed that the spiritual aura of a person
resided upon the five facial features; the spirit of a person was on their face, and the
best must be offered to the heavens. Thus, in the midst of a ceremony, the Martial
Warrior must wear a golden mask to hide their features, because his face could only be
appreciated by the gods, and the mortals have no right to see it.
Guoshi was both furious and disappointed, "The God-Pleasing Martial Warriors of the
past circled the capital at minimum five times, at most fifteen or sixteen times. You? You
can do fifty with your eyes closed! A hundred even! But you killed yourself dead at three
– why didn't you just kill me, your master, first??? Now look at you. Our dear Highness
the Crown Prince is going to go down history, dragging me along with you!"
No one dared speak in the great hall. Yet, Xie Lian still looked to be at ease and calmly
responded, "Guoshi, why don't you look at it this way. If that child had fallen to his death
with no one to catch him, spilling blood on the path of the procession, wouldn't that be
equally ominous? Wouldn't the parade still have to come to a stop? At the very least,
the ceremony ended decently, and that's the best case scenario. Let's just call what's
happened an accident."
For a moment, Guoshi's words were stuck in his throat, but then blew up, "You child!
With so many royal guards on site, anyone could've caught him! Even if the catch is off
and he breaks an arm, he wouldn't die. You could've just marched forward a few steps,
perform a little flashier, and everyone would forget whatever had fallen and move on."
Xie Lian raised his brows, "Guoshi, you understand as well as I. Under those
circumstances no one else but me could have reacted as fast, and there was no second
person who could've caught him without injuries. Let him fall, there'd be one dead.
Catch him, and there'd be two dead."
His words were confident and self-assured. Guoshi also knew that what he had said
was true, and couldn't refute. But seeing him kneel before the statue of god, looking like
all was well and nothing was the matter, Guoshi was all angry, all amused, and all
proud. Before his precious, darling disciple, he just couldn't get angry, and could only
pull at his own hair, and use the pain of his scalp to relieve the worry in his heart. After a
pause, Guoshi spoke again, "Another thing!"
Xie Lian inclined his head, "This disciple is listening."
"You did well today on stage." tate Preceptor said. "But no matter how well you
performed, you can't just suddenly change things up right before the start without a
word of warning. Both majesties were terrified by your act today. Do you know what
would happen if we miss the fortuitous hour?"
Xie Lian knitted his long brows, looking puzzled, "Guoshi, in regards to this, haven't I
already asked for your permission before today?"
Guoshi was taken aback too, "You've asked already? Before today? When?"
Bewildered, Xie Lian turned his head and looked, calling out, "Mu Qing?"