五

                                    

                                          
All eyes float to the notorious ghost king. 
'Typical.' 
Hua Cheng grins raising a brow. "Oh?" He says slyly. Gods these days are more focused on being on the winning side, wether it's their own or not. 
It's strange to find those who opose the powerful. Yet perhaps Hua Cheng can't be totally offended by the heavens and their unfortunate existence. Not when there are those who will fight for Xie Lian's life even if it means being a traitor. 
Hua Cheng sighs making up his mind. "You were all wary and now you're are asking for my help?" He scoffs. Might as well be dramatic he thinks as his face darkens. "Beg."
It wasn't a question or a friendly joke. He meant it. 
He Xuan sees Feng Xin twitch as if he'd loath to do it but the thought of it being for his highness made it okay. Hua Cheng clocks it too, a small twitch of a smile showing. 
"Don't." He Xuan says if only to save Feng Xin some face. The ghost holds an arm out over Feng Xin. Mu Qing rolls his eyes. "As if anyone would." He says unamused. Crossing his arms with a huff. Yet he knows he would do so if promised with Xie Lian's safety. 
Feng Xin closes his hand in a fist. Clearly angry and confused all at the same time. Hua Cheng looks over to him then away again summoning a few butterflies. "Honestly how did his highness put up with you." He grumbles. Closing his hand around one of the glowing creatures. 
He Xuan sighs. "Alright, well perhaps we should continue to monitor the situation-" Hua Cheng growls. He doesn't like that plan. 
"I know-" He Xuan says firmly cutting off any arguments. "I know it's not ideal, his highness is suffering and we all want to help however we're facing the heavenly emperor here. We can't afford to rush it." Then as if to drive his point further. "His highness can't afford for us to rush this." 
The fact is there. If they rush both his highness and his country could be destroyed. It could be detrimental. So they must plan carefully. 
Mu Qing sighs, he doesn't like it but accepts it. "Earth master's right. If the emperor has hidden his highnesses presence this long he's clearly planed it out. And he's always prepared with a back up. We must tread lightly."
Feng Xin sighs. "You said he was chained? Why does his highness not break free?" He asks. "He is the second strongest martial god. Why has- how has he become so weak?"
'What did the emperor do to him?' Goes unsaid, but everyone is thinking it. 
He Xuan pauses. He's not entirely sure how the chain came about, that's something he'll have to ask about, but he's almost positive his highness is being threatened. Why else would he take it all? 
"Well..." he says. "Jun Wu seems to be draining all of Xie Lian's power. At least half is drained by the chain around his ankle, and the rest he sends into his temples. He keeps none for himself. In his mind there's no escape for him." That He Xuan is sure about. He's sacrificing himself for whatever he's being threatened with. 
Hua Cheng scoffs. "He's been threatened with his country and people, of course he'll take it lying down. His highness is a people pleaser. He wants everyone safe. And he'll do anything to keep the peace. Even if he must sacrifice himself."
Well that answers He Xuan's questions about the subject of the threat. 
Mu Qing and Feng Xin share a look. "It's been so long yet nothing has changed." Mu Qing says softly. "He always did take the fall for keeping the peace. Just look what he did to keep us happy." Feng Xin adds. 
Hua Cheng nods. "He'd go any length to ensure what he loves is happy and safe. It's why I admire him so much. Even if it's reckless and sacrificial."
He Xuan ponders the gods circumstances. "If Xie Lian is really as powerful as you say-"
"He is!" The three shout glaring. 
He Xuan raises his brows. He almost wants to laugh, but the devotion they have strikes him a bit to deep. They believe in him so much. It's... touching. 
"Alright," He says. "Since he is very powerful surely with enough spiritual power he'd be able to free himself."
The group slowly nod. "It's one idea." Mu Qing says. "However he's still strongly worshiped in Xianle. If all those people are still not enough then what else are we supposed to do?" 
"Right-" Feng Xin says. "And when he does use that to break free, what will he do when Jun Wu attacks his beloved kingdom? Sure, It's been 800 years since the last war but to his highness it will only feel like a day."
Hua Cheng sighs gripping his hand into a fist tightly. "We expand dianxia's radius, we must attract more worshipers from the mortal realm. The ghost city already has a temple, I shall build a new one for the public." Then opening up his hand to reveal a white jade butterfly pendent he smiles. "Then as a finial blow I shall offer up all the power I hold. With that he should easily break free."
He Xuan humms. "Then I can help him escape to the mortal realm where you can pick him up. In the ghost city he'll be safe. General Xuan Zhen, and general Nan Yang can stand by in xianle to help support any attacks from the emperor."
"Since the emperor has hidden his highness, the other gods have no idea of him being there, if the emperor does go crazy he'd have to find an excuse for why he had imprisoned him, and why he was so obsessed with getting him back." Mu Qing says. 
"If he attacks xianle it will only paint him in bad light, surely the others will grow suspicious and host a meeting on the topic. But wait-" Feng Xin says suddenly, furrowing his brows. "Ming Yi said the emperor planed to marry his highness off. Does that not mean he has the perfect excuse for dianxia being absent for so many years?"
Hua Cheng's aura darkens. "Just who does Jun Wu think he is marrying off his highness like he's a pawn in a game? Tell me," he says facing He Xuan angrily. "Who does he dare think is good enough for his highness?!"
He Xuan shrinks slightly at the misunderstanding. "You all misunderstand." He says softly. "What do you mean?"
"Get to the point." Mu Qing adds irritated. He Xuan takes in a breath. "Don't shoot the messenger okay?" He says aiming a look at Hua Cheng. "The emperor decided to marry his highness to..." he closes his eyes waiting for the yells. "Himself!" He practically yells. 
There's a loud cracking sound as the jade butterfly falls wing broken to the floor. 
Hua Cheng is practically steaming with how angry he is. The other two gods aren't fairing much better both looking like they want to tear the emperor to shreds. "No." Hua Cheng grits out. "Xie Lian will not be doing that." 
Mu Qing laughs darkly. "So true I'd rather see him marry you than that no good emperor."
Hua Cheng would love to gloat at that but now is not the time. 
"We must move fast. We can't afford to delay." Hua Cheng says instead. "Let's get to work." Feng Xin says through clenched teeth.