Xie Lian turned his head and looked at the stone statue kneeling on the ground not far away, dejected, and said, "Qi Rong is right about one thing. I am quite a failure."

Hua Cheng said calmly, "You believe the words of a loser like Qi Rong. Apart from being invincible and running fast, what else can he show? He has been around for more than 800 years and he can't even get a master. I feel like hitting him is dirty."

Xie Lian pulled up the corner of his mouth and thought, if you can’t kill them, then you can run fast. Isn’t that the same for him? Hasn’t he been around for more than 800 years, and he has only become like this now?

Originally, he was quite pleased to see Lang Qianqiu ascend as the Eastern Martial God and become a celestial official in the Heavenly Court. He was still the same as before, still straightforward, and still dozed off during boring meetings. However, from this moment on, he wondered what kind of changes would happen to Lang Qianqiu in the future? He went after Qi Rong, and after catching him, how would he end it with him when he came back?

Xie Lian stood up and slowly walked to the side of the stone statue. Turning to the front of the stone statue, the face was exactly like his, except that it was carved with a crying expression, tears streaming down its face, and its facial features were distorted and ugly. After staring at it for a while, Xie Lian sighed softly, put his hand on its head, and poured a stream of strength into it.

When he took his hand away again, two cracks quietly crept up the statue's cheeks, and then the crying face shattered. The statue collapsed and turned into countless small stones, which fell to the ground and could never be put together again.

When Xie Lian turned around again, his face was as gentle and calm as before. He rubbed his brows and said, "I'm afraid there are still many living people hiding in Qi Rong's lair. I'll go and find them and let them out."

Hua Cheng also stood up and said, "Let's go."

There was a great chaos just now. The little ghosts in Qi Rong's lair fled in all directions, and those who did not escape hid in the dark, not daring to come out. The two searched around, caught a few unlucky little ghosts, and forced them to lead the way. They found several caves used to store "fresh ingredients". A rough count showed that the living people that Qi Rong had captured and prepared to eat were no less than 300, either nearby villagers or passing travelers.

The two walked along, opening the prison doors and releasing the trapped people. Doing these things, Xie Lian calmed down a little, and now he had some free time, so he chatted with Hua Cheng for a while, thought about it, and said, "By the way, Sanlang, there is something I still want to ask you."

Hua Cheng said: "What?"

Xie Lian asked, “How did you know that it was Qi Rong who was behind the incident at the Gilded Palace?”

Even if he didn't know at first why Hua Cheng brought him and Lang Qianqiu to the Green Ghost Lair, he knew it now. Hua Cheng's purpose was to let Lang Qianqiu hear Qi Rong reveal the inside story of the Gilded Palace incident.

Xie Lian said, “Qi Rong doesn’t know about my love for Fang Xin. If he knew, he would have pestered me long ago. Although I discovered that the old royal family of Xianle had secretly made many moves, I didn’t know that Qi Rong was the manipulator behind the scenes. How did you know? How long ago did you know this?”

"Not early." Hua Cheng walked side by side with him, hands behind his back, and said, "I have dealt with Qi Rong several times and know his background well. Qi Rong was a Xianle man when he was alive. He hated Yong'an very much and was used to using tactics of sowing discord and fanning the flames to create trouble. He was the mastermind behind several assassinations against the royal family and nobles in Yong'an, but he kept it well hidden."

Xie Lian shook his head and said, “So he already has a criminal record. Luckily he hid it well. If he hadn’t, and the people in the Heavenly Palace knew that he was meddling in these human affairs, they would have spared him long ago.”

Hua Cheng said: "The bloodbath in the Gilded Palace is consistent with his usual style of doing things, so I have always believed that he is the mastermind behind this incident and that Imperial Master Fangxin is his man. However, Lang Qianqiu pointed out in the Heavenly Court that Imperial Master Fangxin is you, so Fangxin and Qi Rong cannot be from the same faction."

Xie Lian's steps slowed down. It seemed that Hua Cheng was not in the heaven, but he knew everything that happened in the Shenwu Palace. Moreover, he was also very clear about the relationship between Xie Lian and Qi Rong.

Hua Cheng added, "But I still tend to believe that Qi Rong was the mastermind behind this, or at least he must have been the first to take action. After Lang Qianqiu's father ascended the throne, the situation of ordinary Xianle survivors has greatly improved, and they no longer think about revenge and restoration of the country like before. The only one who might still want to rebel is the Xianle royal family. At that time, the only descendant of the Xianle royal family was King Anle. If Qi Rong wanted to instigate someone to rebel, it must be him. It just so happened that this person died of an inexplicable illness not long after the Gilded Banquet, and he had no history of any illness. Isn't this obviously strange?"

Xie Lian nodded. Hua Cheng said, “So he was most likely killed, and the reason for his murder was related to the Gilded Banquet. The initial speculation was that it was done by the Yongan royal family, but if it was them, then the Xianle survivors were not implicated and suffered. This doesn’t make sense. After thinking about it, I can only come to this conclusion now.”

Xie Lian smiled and sighed, “With so few clues, you were able to deduce it almost accurately.”

Hua Cheng said: "It's not difficult. I just have enough knowledge about the people involved in advance."

Xie Lian said, “Indeed, I understand everything. However, there is a very important premise in your deduction that I don’t quite understand.”

Hua Cheng said: "Which one?"

Xie Lian asked, “Why do you believe that Qi Rong must have been the first to set up the Gilded Banquet?”

Hua Cheng said: "I don't believe that he definitely did it, I just believe that it was definitely not you who did it."

Hearing this, Xie Lian stopped smiling.

After a moment of silence, he asked, "Why?"

Hua Cheng said: "If you admit that you had another reason for the bloodbath at the Gilded Banquet, then it is possible that you did it. I believe it. But the Lord of Yong'an is diligent in his administration and is deeply loved by the people. However, Lang Qianqiu said that the reason you told him at the time was 'I can't bear to see them sitting in this position'."

He said: "This is indeed a very standard declaration of a usurper. But if it came from you, it would be a clumsy self-defilement."

Hearing the word “self-defilement”, Xie Lian smiled silently and said, “Self-defilement? Have you ever thought that I might really think that way? Maybe deep down in my heart I also have some resentment hidden in me?”

Hua Cheng said: "So what if you want to? You won't do that."

Xie Lian closed his mouth tightly. After a while, he said, "Sanlang, actually, I am not what you think."

"You——" He closed his eyes and shook his head, as if he didn't know whether to say it or not. Hua Cheng said: "You can say it, it's okay."

After hesitating for a while, Xie Lian said, “I think that in this world, it is better not to have too much hope in anyone.”

Hua Cheng said "Oh" and said, "What do you mean by 'holding too high hopes'?"

Xie Lian said, “Don’t imagine someone to be too good. If you never meet them in your life, and you only see them as an illusory shadow from afar, that’s fine. But if you get to know them and gradually get to know them, one day you will find that this person is different from what you imagined, or even the opposite. At that time, you will be very disappointed.”

Hua Cheng said, "Not necessarily. I don't care whether others are disappointed or not. But for some people, the existence of someone in this world is hope in itself."

Although he did not specify who the “some people” were or who the “someone” was, and his tone was calm, as if he was just making a casual rebuttal, Xie Lian’s heart suddenly floated.

He paused, unable to speak for a long time. After a while, he suddenly asked, "Sanlang, who are you?"

Huacheng also stopped and looked back at him.

Xie Lian looked him in the eye and said seriously, “You know who Qi Rong is, and you know his details. You know who I am, and that I can paint the Prince’s Pleasing God Picture. You know me very well. You know a lot. Maybe even more.”

Hua Cheng raised his eyebrows and said, "Don't I know a lot all the time?"

Xie Lian shook his head and said, “It’s different.”

He supported his right elbow with his left hand and rubbed his chin with his right hand. He was lost in thought and said, "I always have a feeling that you are an old friend of mine. You must have known me a long time ago, maybe when I first ascended, no, maybe even earlier. But... I really can't remember when I have ever met someone like you before."

If you have met someone like Hua Cheng once, you will definitely never forget him. Xie Lian has never fallen on his head and lost his memory, so if he had met him, there is no reason why he would not remember him.

Xie Lian stared at him, and asked in confusion, “Who are you? Have I seen you before?”

Hua Cheng did not answer, but just smiled. Xie Lian immediately realized that this question was really inappropriate.

The real name of a ghost is usually a secret. Unless it is a patient like Qi Rong who cannot be guessed by common sense, how could it be told to others casually?

He hurriedly said, "I'm sorry, don't mind it, I just asked casually. You don't have to answer me, and it doesn't matter who you are."

At this moment, Hua Cheng narrowed his eyes slightly. Xie Lian sensed something and looked back. There was a commotion coming from a cave not far behind them, and a clear female voice said, "I told you, not only will your magic power be stronger if you transform into a female, but your luck will also be better! You still refused, so why don't you see that you made the right choice this time!!!"

It was Shi Qingxuan’s voice. Xie Lian blurted out, “Master Fengshi!”

Sure enough, a woman in white rushed out of the cave. When she saw Xie Lian, her eyes lit up and she said, “Found it. The Crown Prince is here!”

However, she immediately saw Hua Cheng behind Xie Lian, her expression changed immediately, she jumped back, and held the Wind Master Fan horizontally in front of her. Before Xie Lian could say anything, a man's voice came from the cave, saying, "Did you find it? How is it?"

A sound of footsteps approached, and a figure flashed out. It was Feng Xin. He held a black longbow in his left hand. When he saw Hua Cheng, he immediately pulled the silver bowstring and entered a vigilant posture. Hua Cheng sneered and did not comment. Xie Lian hurriedly said, "Let's talk it over. Put away your weapons first."

The four of them met in a narrow road in the Green Ghost's lair, facing each other. Feng Xin pulled the bowstring to its full length, and a ray of spiritual light condensed into a feather arrow in his right hand, aiming at Hua Cheng. He spoke first, and said in a deep voice: "Your Highness, come here first."

Feng Xin's bow was a gift from Jun Wu, called the Wind God Bow, and it was a magical weapon that gave him a lot of headaches. Xie Lian was afraid that he would really shoot an arrow, so he dodged in front of Hua Cheng, but Hua Cheng pulled him from behind, and Xie Lian was pulled back again.

The two visitors were startled by this pull. Shi Qingxuan immediately raised his hand and said, "Huacheng! Xueyu Tanhua! You, you, you, don't mess around. Your Ji Le Fang was burned accidentally. If you have any dissatisfaction, let's discuss it. We can go to the Heavenly Court to compensate you. The Emperor is not so unable to afford the compensation. Release His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, and everything will be fine."