“
I am forever your most devoted believer.
”
”
Mò Xiāng Tóng Xiù (天官赐福 [Tiān Guān Cì Fú])
“
Last time, they spent eight hundred years running towards each other.
This time, it only took an instant to fall into each other’s embrace.
”
”
Mò Xiāng Tóng Xiù (天官赐福 [Tiān Guān Cì Fú])
“
You've always been the strongest. But you don't need to be strong every waking moment of every day.
”
”
Mò Xiāng Tóng Xiù (天官赐福 [Tiān Guān Cì Fú])
“
Only after having met you did I discover that it’s such a simple thing to be happy.
”
”
墨香铜臭
“
Hua Cheng said quietly, "Your Highness, I understand your everything.
"Your courage, your despair; your kindness, your pain; your resentment, your hate; your intelligence, your foolishness.
"If I could, I would have you use me as your stepping stone, the bridge you take apart after crossing, the corpse bones you need to trample to climb up, the sinner who deserved the butchering of a million knives. But, I know you wouldn't allow it."
(...)
However, Hua Cheng only replied, "To die in battle for you is my greatest honour."
Those words were like a fatal blow. The tears in Xie Lian's eyes could no longer be restrained, and they came pouring out.
Like he was hanging on the thread of his life, he pleaded, "You said you would never leave me."
However, Hua Cheng replied, "There is no banquet in this world that doesn't come to an end."
Xie Lian bowed his head and buried it deep into his chest, his heart and throat in constricted agony, unable to speak.
Yet soon after, he heard Hua Cheng say above him, "But, I will never leave you."
Hearing this, Xie Lian's head shot up.
Hua Cheng said to him, "I will come back. Your Highness, believe me.
”
”
Mò Xiāng Tóng Xiù (天官赐福 [Tiān Guān Cì Fú])
“
That person saw me at my worst", Hua Cheng said.
"Then I'm very envious of that", Xie Lian replied.
”
”
Mò Xiāng Tóng Xiù (天官赐福 [Tiān Guān Cì Fú])
“
Xie lian smiled wistfully. "San Lang, things aren't always that absolute. Sometimes, it's not up to you to decide if the path is easy to walk."
Hua Cheng said softly, "I might not be able to decide whether the path is easy or not; but whether I tread the path is entirely up to me.
”
”
Mò Xiāng Tóng Xiù (天官赐福 [Tiān Guān Cì Fú])
“
If your dream is to save the common people, then my dream is only you.
”
”
Mò Xiāng Tóngxiù
“
Hua Cheng quietly sighed, extended his arms, and once again folded him into his embrace. "Your Highness, I've always watched you."
This was the second time he had said this, but his voice was softer than before. Xie Lian clutched the red robes at his chest, asking, his mind blank, "I know, I know. But... what should I do now?"
Hua Cheng's long and slender fingers gently combed through Xie Lian's mussed hair. "Then, Your Highness, do you know why I refuse to leave this world?"
Xie Lian couldn't understand why Hua Cheng could still be so calm at a time like this, he was panicking so hard he was trembling. But, while feeling lost, he still simple-mindedly asked, "Why?"
Hua Cheng replied quietly, "Because I have a beloved who is still in this world."
Hearing this, Xie Lian was slightly stunned. He seemed to have heard this somewhere before.
Hua Cheng continued, "My beloved is a brave, noble, and gracious special someone. He's saved my life; I've looked up to him ever since I was young. But, I wanted to catch up to him more, and become and even stronger person for him. Although he might not remember me well. We never really talked. I want to protect him."
He gazed at Xie Lian. "If your dream is to save the common people, then my dream is only you."
"..." Relying on his memory, Xie Lian asked with a trembling voice, "But... you won't... be able to rest in peace... like this...?"
Hua Cheng answered, "I pray to never rest in peace.
”
”
Mò Xiāng Tóng Xiù (天官赐福 [Tiān Guān Cì Fú])
“
Hua Cheng said woefully, “Gege, although I’m happy you’re so happy, but, is it really that funny?”
Xie Lian hugged his belly. “Of course! Only after having met you did I rediscover that it’s such a simple thing to be happy, hahaha…
”
”
Mò Xiāng Tóng Xiù (天官赐福 [Tiān Guān Cì Fú])
“
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.
”
”
Mò Xiāng Tóng Xiù (Heaven Official's Blessing: Tian Guan Ci Fu (Novel) Vol. 2)
“
Obviously, the kind that belongs to him.”
Hua Cheng reached out and lifted Xie Lian’s chin. “His temper is certainly nice, but my temper is bad. No one shall touch what I love except for me.
”
”
墨香铜臭, Mò Xiāng Tóng Xiù (天官赐福 [Tiān Guān Cì Fú])
“
After a while, San Lang said softly, “Something like saving the world, it really doesn’t matter how you do it. But, although brave, it’s foolish.” “Yeah,” Xie Lian agreed. Hua Cheng continued, “Although foolish, it’s brave.
”
”
Mò Xiāng Tóng Xiù (Heaven Official's Blessing)
“
Xie Lian had buried his face in his back, and also didn’t speak. Though nothing was said, it was enough.
He heard Hua Cheng’s staggering voice coming from above. “...Your Highness. You really…will be the death of me.
”
”
墨香铜臭 (天官赐福 [Tiān Guān Cì Fú])
“
Doesn’t this say they all died by suicide?” Xie Lian said.
“Before I would make my move, I’d send messengers to greet them first, and they’d end themselves,” Hua Cheng replied. “So, perhaps that doesn’t count as my kill?
”
”
Mò Xiāng Tóngxiù, 天官赐福 [Tiān Guān Cì Fú]
“
You're so insincere," Xie Lian said.
Hua Cheng laughed. "I promise, you will not find another person more sincere than me in this world.
”
”
Mò Xiāng Tóng Xiù (Heaven Official's Blessing: Tian Guan Ci Fu (Novel) Vol. 3)
“
Xie Lian whipped his head over, and a biting chill flashed before his face. He straightened and stated solemnly:
“You ask who I am? LISTEN WELL! ——I, AM THE EMINENT HIGHNESS THE CROWN PRINCE! You riotous radicals, BOW DOWN BEFORE ME!”
His voice boomed like thunder in clear skies. There were actually a few who almost dropped to their knees, and didn’t snap out of it until their companions pulled them up.
“What are you doing? Are you actually kneeling?”
“Th-that’s weird, I did it before I realized it…”
Xie Lian proclaimed sharply:
“I, AM OVER EIGHT HUNDRED. OLDER THAN ALL OF YOU COMBINED. I’VE CROSSED MORE BRIDGES THAN ALL THE ROADS YOU’VE WALKED.
“I, POSSESS SHRINES AND TEMPLES ACROSS THIS LAND; MY DEVOTEES AND WORSHIPPERS ARE SPREAD TO ALL FOUR SEAS. IF YOU DON’T KNOW MY NAME, IT’S BECAUSE YOU ARE IGNORANT AND UNLEARNED OF THE WORLD!
“I, DO NOT WORSHIP GODS.
“I, AM GOD!”
When the mob heard this speech, that was so shameless yet spoken with an incomparably impressive air, they were all stunned, and dropped their jaws.
“…HUH???”
Xie Lian made up all that nonsense because he was waiting for this very moment. He flung that plate in his hand, and all those little white meatballs shot out through the air like iron pellets, scattering in all directions. Without any misses, they were hurled right into the open mouths of all those people in shock. Then he wiped away his sweat.
“Will everyone please forget everything I just said? I’m actually only just a scrap collector!
”
”
Mò Xiāng Tóngxiù, 天官赐福 [Tiān Guān Cì Fú]
“
Speaking of which, I also met a teenager that could command silver butterflies around on Mount Yu Jun. Does anyone know who that was?”
The lively, bustling chaotic spirit communication array suddenly fell silent the moment those words were out.
This kind of reaction, Xie Lian had seen it coming and so he just waited patiently. After a while, Ling Wen finally asked, “Your Highness Crown Prince, what did you just say?”
Mu Qing coldly answered for him, “He just said, he met Hua Cheng.”
Finally obtaining the name of that red-clothed young man, Xie Lian was ineffably in a good mood. He smiled and said, “So his name is Hua Cheng? Hm, this name suits him quite well.
”
”
Mò Xiāng Tóng Xiù (Heaven Official's Blessing)
“
Hua Cheng would never help or protect anyone aside from Xie Lian,
”
”
Mò Xiāng Tóng Xiù (Heaven Official's Blessing: Tian Guan Ci Fu (Novel) Vol. 4)
“
Gege, want to get married?”
“...”
Xie Lian was struck dumb. “...Huh?”
Such an intent gaze, such words; they were in such close quarters with nowhere to run. Colors exploded in Xie Lian's vision, and his mind went completely blank. His entire body was frozen, stiffer than a corpse.
Seeing his reaction, Hua Cheng withdrew his arm and let out a snicker. “It's a joke. Did I shock gege?”
“...” Xie Lian only snapped out of it with concerted effort. “...You're too much. How can you joke about something like that?”
It wasn't just shock. He was so rattled by that question that his heart had almost stopped. And though he did not quite understand why, he also felt a trace of hurt.
“My bad,” Hua Cheng laughed.
”
”
Mò Xiāng Tóng Xiù, 天官赐福 [Tiān Guān Cì Fú] (Heaven Official's Blessing: Tian Guan Ci Fu (Novel) Vol. 4)
“
I'd like to see what kind of ghost dares come knocking on my door.
”
”
Mò Xiāng Tóng Xiù, 天官赐福 [Tiān Guān Cì Fú]
“
I’ve been wanting to ask,” Hua Cheng said. “If gege doesn’t feel secure living here, why not move somewhere else?” Xie Lian shook his head. “That’s easy for you to say, San Lang. Where would I move?” Hua Cheng smiled. “Why not move in with me?
”
”
Mò Xiāng Tóng Xiù (Heaven Official's Blessing: Tian Guan Ci Fu (Novel) Vol. 4)
“
Pei Ming pointed at all the leftover wood pieces they left behind on the beach. “You made that coffin yourselves, right? Why didn’t you build a bigger one?” “...” The coffin boat was designed by both Hua Cheng and Xie Lian, and it seemed neither of them had considered making it bigger at the time. Xie Lian could only laugh awkwardly. “You’re right. Ha ha, ha ha. Did My Lords only just drift to this island?
”
”
Mò Xiāng Tóng Xiù (Heaven Official's Blessing: Tian Guan Ci Fu (Novel) Vol. 4)
“
It really wasn’t fair. Xie Lian didn’t dare touch anywhere on Hua Cheng that was even slightly dangerous. But in his confused state of mind, Hua Cheng’s hands roamed over every inch of his body without restraint, causing Xie Lian unspeakable torment.
”
”
Mò Xiāng Tóng Xiù (Heaven Official's Blessing: Tian Guan Ci Fu (Novel) Vol. 4)
“
After much consideration, Xie Lian made a decision. “…Forgive me.” He cupped Hua Cheng’s cheeks and captured his lips with his own. Xie Lian then began to gently guide the turbulent flow of heat into his own body, helping ease Hua Cheng’s pain and agitation.
”
”
Mò Xiāng Tóng Xiù (Heaven Official's Blessing: Tian Guan Ci Fu (Novel) Vol. 4)