Heaven Official's Blessing: Tian Guan Ci Fu (Novel) Vol. 2(44)

Lang Qianqiu’s greatsword was manageable, but Hua Cheng’s scimitar was a force to be reckoned with. The sword Xie Lian had used was one from Hua Cheng’s collection, so naturally it was also a formidable blade. When those two blades crossed, it blasted that blinding white light. With the two moves, the first strike against Lang Qianqiu’s greatsword caused a crack in Xie Lian’s sword, and the second strike against the scimitar Eming shattered it to pieces.

All of this was done within a fraction of a second, faster than the eye could see. Shi Qingxuan looked at the tragic state of Xie Lian’s right hand and determined that the whole right arm was probably badly mangled.

He said, “Your Highness, you’re…so full of vigor. I can’t believe you blocked them single-handedly!”

The Flower-Crowned Martial God: Sword in One Hand, Flower in the Other. Shi Qingxuan had only remembered the flower. He had forgotten that Xie Lian ascended because of his sword.

Thinking back on how close of a call that was, Shi Qingxuan’s heart was still racing. “Thank goodness Your Highness had those moves, otherwise who knows how many pieces Lang Qianqiu would have been cut into by Hua Cheng.”

The strange thing was, Lang Qianqiu appeared to be unharmed, but he remained in a stunned state, like his soul had left his body.

“Qianqiu?” Shi Qingxuan called. “Qianqiu, are you all right? Wake up! What’s with you? Has your sight not returned yet?”

Riding on a tailwind, the group finally reached the heavenly capital. Dragging and carrying, they rushed past the Ascension Gates and ran straight for the Palace of Divine Might. Since Lang Ying couldn’t enter the palace, Xie Lian settled him in a small side chamber. No one seemed to be on duty, so he shouted within the communication array:

“Are there any fellow heavenly officials here? Please, everyone, come quickly to the Palace of Divine Might! It’s an emergency; we have a wounded official!”

As he shouted, Shi Qingxuan snapped his fingers and switched back to his white Daoist robes. He waved and released a hundred thousand merits. “It’s two wounded officials!”

Xie Lian said hurriedly, “Lord Wind Master, don’t get so excited. We can ask normally; there’s no need to distribute any merits. Everyone will naturally come once they hear us.”

“No, Your Highness,” Shi Qingxuan said. “You have to know, giving out merits works a hundred times faster than asking alone!”

Soon enough, a voice came from the distance, “Who’s wounded?”

When the word “who” was uttered, the voice was still far away, but by the end of the question, the person had appeared—Feng Xin. He entered the hall, looked at Xie Lian, then at Lang Qianqiu, his face faltering.

“I’m fine, but Lord Earth Master seems to be badly wounded,” Xie Lian said.

After a moment of silence, Feng Xin asked, “What happened to your right arm?”

“So what if he’s injured?” another voice came. “There are so many heavenly officials, and who among us has ever returned unscathed after a patrol?”

The voice was decorous and mellow, but the words were unpleasant—it was, of course, Mu Qing. He crossed into the great hall and also took a look at Xie Lian, then at Lang Qianqiu. Yet the face he made was the opposite of Feng Xin: he merely arched his brows slightly, looking like he was ready to watch a good show. Seeing how Feng Xin moved to check on Xie Lian’s arm, he bent down to check on Ming Yi.

He said, “So this is Lord Earth Master?”

During that exchange, a number of heavenly officials poured into the hall one after another. Earth Master Yi had always been inconspicuous and stayed out of sight, so for many, it was the first time they had ever seen him in person, and they bunched around, staring at him with great interest. The masses were mostly confused, not knowing why they were gathering at the Palace of Divine Might, but having collected the Wind Master’s merits, they had to come and check it out.

“Thanks, but I’m all right. Leave it and it’ll recover on its own,” Xie Lian said to Feng Xin.

Feng Xin didn’t mince words. “Take care of yourself.”

Xie Lian uttered another soft thanks, but when he turned around, Lang Qianqiu was staring at him with a dazed look.

“Your Highness Tai Hua, what’s the matter?” he asked.

Feng Xin also noticed something off about Lang Qianqiu and questioned, “Was His Highness Tai Hua also injured somewhere?”

“I don’t think so. Let me see,” Xie Lian said and extended his hand, reaching for Lang Qianqiu’s brow. Yet unexpectedly, with his quick eyes and deft hand, Lang Qianqiu seized Xie Lian’s wrist.

There was still some hesitation on Lang Qianqiu’s face, as if he had discovered something but still wasn’t sure. However, there was already fire burning in his eyes. Xie Lian felt the trembling of rage passing from Lang Qianqiu’s arm to his.

Now all the spectating officials had noticed this unusual situation and started whispering among themselves. Shi Qingxuan and Mu Qing both began to rise, and Feng Xin asked, “Your Highness Tai Hua, what are you doing?”

Lang Qianqiu finally moved his lips. He only uttered two words, but Xie Lian’s heart sank all the way to the very bottom.

“…State Preceptor?” Lang Qianqiu said through gritted teeth.

Xie Lian’s pupils contracted slightly.