"If you're apologising for stabbings during your second banishment then don't. Like you said forget the forgotten"

Hearing this all of them were way too shocked, sure they heard that prince has fought with emperor and got banished but they didn't knew that he managed to injure jun wu.

"How can I forget?" xie lian said wryly.

By now both of them has reached the back quarters of divine might.
“Then look to the future,” Jun Wu replied quietly. “There is still much we need you for.”

Xie Lian rubbed his forehead. “Xianle is but a lowly scrap immortal, without power. There is no need for me. I only hope not to be a burden.”

"xianle you shouldn't think that about yourself" Jun wu said while xie lian smiled sheepishly.

"Such low opinion. You worked splendidly in those two cases" jun wu commented.

"Except I have offended general pei" xie lian sighed.

"Ming Guang is fine. I will keep an eye on him, however...do tell me how you managed to stir up trouble when you descended down this time?"

"My lord why such favouritism" pei ming couldn't help but ask frowning.
"get used to it, many will prefer his highness instead of you" ling wen comment while pei ming just grumbled under his breath.

Xie lian raised hand "my lord I swear I did nothing wrong. I just met an interesting man just by chance"

"Interesting huh?" pei ming said smirking a lil. While xie lian just blushed hard trying not to run away from hua cheng's gaze.

"a chance encounter young man, Supreme Ghost King. Xianle, surely you are aware what the consequences would be if Ming Guang was to question you further and you confessed to this in front of the other officials? No one would believe you.”

"Xianle knows" xie lian said woefully.

“So, I am grateful for My
Lord’s timely intervention. My Lord, you’re not actually going to interrogate me, are you? I wouldn’t collude with the Ghost Realm. These are absurd concerns.”

“Naturally, I know you would not intentionally collude with the Ghost Realm,” Jun Wu said.
“I am grateful for My Lord’s trust,” Xie Lian replied.

“However, with things thus, it may no longer be appropriate to send
you to investigate an urgent matter that I have on hand.”

Many looked interested, it was rare for emperor to personally hand out missions to someone.

“What is it?” Xie Lian inquired.
At this time, the two of them reached the chamber behind the great hall, separated from the main hall by a large mural. The front depicted a golden palace towering above a sea of clouds, radiant and brilliant. The back of the mural was another view, depicting mountains and valleys spanning over an enormous distance. Gazing over the expanse of the painting, one
could see many tiny pearls embedded on this giant map, glinting like stars.

Jun wu said pointing at the area around east “Seven days ago, many saw with their own eyes a dragon of fire suddenly soaring into the sky from the deep mountains in this area.”

Xie Lian’s face grew serious. "it's cry for help"

“Correct. It was a distress signal, and it came from a heavenly official,” Jun Wu said.

Note:-  I'm gonna skip the explanation of this one cause everyone in the room knows right? :)

"Heavenly officials out on patrol has given their notice ahead of time but only two officials were absent. Rain master and earth master."

"ming-xiong it can't be you right haha" qingxuan said grabbing the hand of earth master who just sat there looking bored.

"are there any demonic gathering or lairs nearby?" xie lian asked growing worried.

"there are, do you know ghost city?"

"I've heard of it" xie lian replied thinking for a while.

"after that piller of fire appeared i immediately sent some officials to investigate but they didn't find anything. So it's most likely they moved in ghost city. However heavenly realm and ghost city has drawn a clear boundary. without proper proof we cannot intrude in ghost realm"

So the meeting wasn't about banyue pass, it was to check who was available and who wasn't.

“Then, My Lord, pray give Xianle your command.”
“You were the first candidate I originally had in mind,” Jun Wu said. “But for this, it may be inconvenient for you to go.”

“How would it be inconvenient?” Xie Lian asked.
“First, the east is guarded by Lang Qianqiu. If you should go, you
would have to cooperate with him,” Jun Wu said. Xie Lian responded, “That would not be a problem, please rest assured.”

"second, do you know who currently resides ghost city?" Jun wu asked.

Xie lian looked unsure "is it hua cheng?" jun wu slowly nodded. Xie lian's mind drifted back to something else.

Distress fire of piller was sent seven days ago. Hua cheng left puqi shrine seven days ago. Could there be a connection for this two events? No no, it must be a coincidence. Xie lian shook head.

"why do you have that much trust? He is fucking ghost king" mu qing asked looking at xie lian.
"Umm....idk?"

“It would seem you have a rather good relationship with him, which is fine,” Jun Wu said. “The only thing I am concerned about is whether he is involved. If this makes it awkward for you, then do not force yourself. If you
have any other suggestions or anyone you would nominate, do let me know.”

However, Xie Lian still said, “Let me go. I don’t think Crimson Rain
Sought Flower is a disingenuous person.” Jun Wu looked at him. “Xianle, I know you are very capable and know what you are doing. However, I also know that you always think the best of
everyone.”

"Your highness it's good thing that you think like that but it can be very dangerous too" yushi huang said looking bit worried.

"rain master thank you so much for your concern but no one is born evil" xie lian said laughing a little making others unsure of what to say.

'his highness is so kind' yin yu thought looking at xie lian amazed.

"please my lord, you make it sound like I'm little princess who has never left her palace. Those words doesn't suit me anymore"

Jun wu shook his head "i should not comment on friends you make but let me say this...be careful of hua cheng" Xie lian didn't wanted to acknowledge that so he just kept his head down saying nothing. Jun wu continued

"specially his deadly scimitar e-ming"

"what does my lord means?" xie lian looking confused.

"You didn't even knew that?" feng xin asked "i don't... I never saw it." xie Lian replied while many thought 'how did you lived eight hundred years?'

“The scimitar Eming is a cursed blade, a blade of misfortune. To forge such an evil weapon would require terrifyingly cruel sacrifice and bloody determination. Do not touch it, and do not let it touch you either. If you do, the consequences will be unimaginable,” Jun Wu replied.

Xie Lian couldn’t tell where his sudden surge of confidence came
from, but inwardly, he thought: San Lang probably wouldn’t strike at me with a blade.

"yes gege I would never" hua cheng said smiling warmly at xie lian. Well who would've thought they will see hua cheng smile for real? Everyone in room was shocked.

Still, he responded, “Xianle understands.”

"I'm glad that this mission will be taken by you. Do you have anyone in mind who would you like to accompany you?"

"Just someone who is subtle and easy to work with. Someone who has abundant spiritual powers so they can lend me a bit" xie lian said.

"By first condition you have already eliminated Nan yang and Xuan zen. How has it been with them? Have you all talked?" Jun wu never entered communication array so he wouldn't know any discussion there. "um..yes a little"

"why they just don't talk? It's so awkward like this" qingxuan whispered to He Xuan. "well it's weird for someone who hasn't talked for eight hundred years suddenly start talking" He Xuan explained making qingxuan nod a little.

"so many years and 'a little' is all you can do? When you came back this time I heard you got into trouble with Xuan zen and destroyed Nan yang palace."

Xie looked guilty enough to try to apologise again "I'm really sorr-"

"it's fine" Feng xin said waving a little.

"I paid them back. And for that I also thank for my lord to let me go to mount yujin" Jun wu laughed before saying "do not thank me. I heard from Ling wen that Nan yang approached her and told her that you don't have to pay back any merits for repairs"

By this everyone in room was shocked and feng xin blushed because of embarrassment before shouting. "tf are you all looking at?"

They all focused back on screen while xie lian thanked him.

"this... I wasn't aware of this" xie lian said while many complicated and bittersweet feelings clouded his mind. His thoughts were all over place. At the end he could just sigh.. Truly in this world 'do not tell anyone' are just empty words.

Many nodded while feng xin and mu qing had complicated feelings thinking 'would it be better if they stayed?'

"yes you weren't supposed to he forbade her to tell you this. How about wind master?" Jun wu asked.

"Wind master is nice but I doubt she will be willing to work with me"

"ofc your highness I would love to. Also are we not already friends?" qingxuan said happily "qingxuan its dangerous" shi wudu said snapping his fan close.

"cmon brother I'm not weak also I'm a god"

"he is just being worried for his brother" pei ming said.

Xie lian couldn't help just smile looking at three.

"Don't worry about that. Last time I saw he only had praises for you also wind master is outgoing person and is easy to work with. It will good if you both go down together for this mission" Jun wu explained

"Also don't be stupid. Take care of yourself, I will send someone to fetch wind master till then go rest in xianle palace"

"I have no merits also xianle palace was destroyed long time ago. What does my lord mean by that?"

"I have it made for you, you don't plan on squeezing in that little shrine of yours for forever"

"my lord I appreciate that" xie lian said inclining his head. While many others were happy for prince.

Watching this they all found out how badly he was treated but he was still kind and caring person. They all started respecting him and being little protective because strangely prince always gets himself in trouble trying to help others.

______________________________________

Authors threater:-

Jun wu : take care of yourself xianle

Xie lian : *throws himself between the two swords and comes back with broken bloodied arm*

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