Heaven Official's Blessing: Tian Guan Ci Fu (Novel) Vol. 2(28)

Hua Cheng arched his brows. “Gege, what are you saying? I never go to the red-light district.”

Xie Lian was amazed. “Really?”

“Of course,” Hua Cheng replied. The two approached the black jaded divan and sat down next to each other. Hua Cheng continued, “This is nothing but a place I remodel now and then, a residence of sorts. I hang around here when I’m free. If I’m busy, I leave it be.”

“So it’s your home,” Xie Lian commented.

“Residence,” Hua Cheng corrected. “Not a home.”

“Is there a difference?” Xie Lian asked.

“Of course,” Hua Cheng replied. “A home has family. A place where someone lives alone is not a home.”

Xie Lian felt his heart stirred by this. By that definition, it had been over eight hundred years since he had anything that could be called a “home.” Although Hua Cheng had no trace of loneliness on his face, Xie Lian thought they were perhaps alike.

Hua Cheng continued, “If it’s home, then even a small place like Puqi Shrine is a million times better than my Paradise Manor.”

Xie Lian agreed sincerely with the sentiment and smiled. “I didn’t realize that San Lang was this sentimental. But to compare this to my Puqi Shrine, you’re really pulling my leg here.”

Hua Cheng laughed. “What’s there to be embarrassed about? Truth be told, gege’s Puqi Shrine is small, but it’s so much more comfortable than my Paradise Manor. It’s more like a home.”

“Is that so?” Xie Lian said warmly. “Then if you like it, in the future, come over whenever you want. The doors of Puqi Shrine will always open for you.”

Hua Cheng’s face lit up. “Since gege says so, then I’ll gladly take you up on your offer. Don’t think of me as a nuisance in the future.”

“There’s no way!” Xie Lian said. “By the way, San Lang, I want to ask you for a favor, but I don’t know if you’d have the time?”

“What is it?” Hua Cheng asked. “This is my territory. If you ask, I’ll deliver.”

After some thought, Xie Lian said, “Before, when I was dealing with the case at Mount Yujun, I ran into a boy who might have originated from my kingdom.”

Hua Cheng narrowed his eye but didn’t say a word. Xie Lian continued his description.

“The boy was too scared and fled, and I couldn’t find him for the longest time. But earlier, when I was running around the streets of Ghost City, I discovered that he’d fled here. San Lang, you are the lord of this land. Is there any way you can help me find him? The boy’s face is wrapped in bandages, and he only just ran away from the front steps of Paradise Manor.”

Hua Cheng smiled. “All right, I understand. There’s no need to worry, gege. Just wait.”

Xie Lian sighed a breath of relief. “Truly, thank you again.”

“This is nothing,” Hua Cheng said. “But you left Lang Qianqiu just like that?”

Xie Lian thought to himself, If Lang Qianqiu were here, straightforward and obtuse, who knows what trouble he’d start. It’s probably best that we meet up later.

Xie Lian replied casually, “His Highness Tai Hua caused you trouble earlier at the Gambler’s Den. Sorry about that.”

That slightly condescending smirk appeared on Hua Cheng’s face again. “What are you saying? Who is he to even count as trouble?”

“The things he broke…” Xie Lian started, and Hua Cheng laughed.

“For gege’s sake, I’ll clear his account. He can go around as he wishes, as long as he doesn’t show his face in front of me.”

Xie Lian was amazed. “You don’t care if there are heavenly officials frolicking about in your territory?” Could Hua Cheng really be that confident?

Hua Cheng smiled.

“Gege might not know this, but while all three realms proclaim Ghost City to be a hell of corruption, a pandemonium, in reality, everyone wants to come to carouse. So many heavenly officials pretend not to care or speak ill of this place, but behind everyone’s back, they often come in disguise and conduct unspeakable business. I’ve seen too much. If they don’t stir up trouble, then I don’t care, and if they do, then even better, because then I can wipe them out all at once.”

“It wasn’t that His Highness Tai Hua was trying to cause havoc on purpose. It was just that, after seeing a round of that sort of bets go down, he felt he had to stop it. He acted on impulse,” Xie Lian explained.

“That’s his lack of experience,” Hua Cheng said impassively. “Humans are all the same: when given the choice between gaining ten extra years of life or cutting their enemy’s life ten years shorter, they pick the latter without hesitation.” He then crossed his arms. “That an idiot like Lang Qianqiu can ascend…the heavens are truly lacking in humanity.”

Xie Lian rubbed his forehead, feeling a little guilty. You can’t say it like that. After all, someone like me…ascended three times…

After some hesitation, Xie Lian spoke up again. “San Lang, it may be out of line for me, but I still have to say it. That Gambler’s Den of yours is incredibly dangerous. Won’t it blow up in your face one day?”

A place that allowed the betting of sons and daughters and people’s lives, granting wishes for others’ sudden death—it was dreadfully sinful. Never mind a little brawl; if one day the bets got out of hand, the Heavenly Realm wouldn’t be able to stay on the sidelines. Hua Cheng gave him a look.