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When Xie Lian arrived at the Paradise Manor, it was not the dancing ghost women nor the red clad man playing with gold foils that captured his attention. The thought of finding the child covered in bandages had long since left his mind. At the moment, Xie Lian was wondering that maybe being the laughing stock of all three realm wasn’t really a bad thing, compared to the embarrassment he was feeling right now. How could he lose something like that without even noticing?
A few minutes before, while following the ghost towards the Paradise Manor, a feeling that something was missing on his body had crept his mind, but he had just ignored it, because honestly, he didn’t really possess anything valuable, right?
Having lived 800 years with just a few coins in his sleeve, he was never actually careful about thieves, and probably no one could steal from him without being noticed. He was a martial god, after all. As he reached the hall of the palace, realization struck his mind, and he almost stumbled on himself. San Lang’s ring!
Clutching his own neck as if he were going to strangle himself, Xie Lian desperately searched for the thin chain, and his panic increased with each passing second. He must have been muttering something aloud because the ghost ladies, that now were exiting the room, stared at him with curiosity, giggling among themselves.
Hua Cheng had already knocked down the Golden Foil Palace, and was walking towards him, a wide smile resting on his face, “Since gege is here, why not come in? Don’t be a stranger after parting for so many days.”
Xie Lian hastily composed himself, trying to return a smile, but somehow Hua Cheng noticed his discomfort, “Gege, is everything alright? You seem troubled.”
His smile was still genuine but hid a slight concerned expression.
“Of course, San Lang. I am just surprised by this place, that’s all. Back at the Gambler’s Den you said you were coming here to the Paradise Manor and I had thought it was something like a brothel or the red light district, but this looks more like a theatre?”
Hua Cheng chuckled, and his concern disappeared, “Gege what are you saying? I never go to the red-light district.”
Xie Lian, who was not exactly focused on the conversation, nodded slightly saying “Oh”.
While searching through his memory in search of the last appearance of the ring, Xie Lian remembered he hadn’t asked yet about San Lang’s appearance.
Smiling, he asked, “San Lang, this is your true form, right?”
Hua Cheng’s smile seemed to freeze, but when he answered his voice was the same as before, “En, I did say that the next time we meet I would greet you with my real appearance.”
Xie Lian grinned, and said earnestly, “Not bad.”
The smile on his face disappeared the moment Hua Cheng turned his back to approach the black jaded divan he was seated before.
Xie Lian’s mind was on turmoil, searching for solutions. If the ring was really a gift from Hua Cheng, he couldn’t just pretend nothing happened, he had to tell him. But at the same time, Xie Lian was reluctant. What if it was something important? Would Hua Cheng be disappointed? Still, keeping the secret was unfair, he had to find the best way to reveal the truth.
Having reached the divan, Xie Lian cleared his throat, trying to relieve his nervousness, “San Lang? There’s something I should tell you…”
Hua Cheng didn’t seem to notice his inner turmoil, and handed him a cup of tea, filling one for himself, “What is it, Gege? You can tell me anything.”
Xie Lian chuckled nervously, while his fingers were fiddling in his white robes, “Did you leave a… ring last time?”
Hua Cheng’s eyes seemed to shine for a second, and he smiled at him, “It’s for you.”
Xie Lian almost regretted bringing it up, but the guilt he was feeling made him keep going, while stammering, “Oh, well…” Under Hua Cheng’s smiling gaze, Xie Lian wanted to cry.
“San Lang, I am deeply sorry, but I seem to have lost the ring!” He blurted out, closing his eyes, as if afraid to see Hua Cheng’s reaction to the news.
After a couple of seconds, Hua Cheng had not answered yet, and Xie Lian opened his eyes again. Now, that was new. Hua Cheng’s face seemed to have paled, if that was even possible, and a shocked expression was printed on his face.
“…”
He blinked at Xie Lian, and after a moment of excruciating silence, his smile widened again, “Gege doesn’t need to worry or feel guilty, that ring was a mere lucky charm of mine, it’s not worth your concern, please rest assured.”
Xie Lian exhaled relieved, “I’m still sorry, San Lang! I really have no idea of how I could have lost it, I think I had it before coming to the Ghost City!”
Hua Cheng opened his mouth, as if he wanted to say something, but in the end, he just gave another smile to Xie Lian. The grin seemed a little bit forced.
“San Lang, I could try and search it, but I think that if someone has already found the ring, they would most likely keep it to themselves… I could still try-”
Hua Cheng reassured him, “Gege, you don’t have to worry, I’ve already sent someone.” Although is tone was calm, Xie Lian could sense that the ring did indeed have some value, for Hua Cheng’s eyes revealed some nervousness.
Before Xie Lian could say something, Hua Cheng smiled again, more sincerely, and Xie Lian lowered his gaze, at a loss of words. He felt he should be the one comforting Hua Cheng since he was the one at fault for losing it. A small chuckle distracted him from his thoughts. Xie Lian raised his head, meeting Hua Cheng’s gaze. Neither of them averted their stare, and Xie Lian could feel his face heating up with each passing second.
After what seemed an eternity, Hua Cheng chuckled again, “The ring has been found. You see, gege, no need to worry for something like this.”
Xie Lian almost jumped up from the joy, “Really?”
Watching the relief spreading on the god’s features, Hua Cheng’s smile softened, “En, it’s almost here.”
Having said that, he stood up, walking leisurely towards the entrance of the hall. Xie Lian followed with his eyes as the ghost dressed in black approached Hua Cheng and whispered something he could not hear. When Hua Cheng came back to the divan, Xie Lian stood up, checking to see if the ghost had really brought the ring back. Indeed, in Hua Cheng’s hand now rested the crystal ring, and Xie Lian felt overjoyed. Maybe he wasn’t that unlucky, after all.
“Here, gege, take it”, Hua Cheng said while holding out the chain.
Xie Lian laughed nervously, trying to avoid his gaze, “San Lang, maybe it’s better if you don’t give it to me. So little time has passed, and I’ve already managed to lose it…”
“Gege, you don’t need to worry about losing it. I promise you that I will find it if it happens again.”
Xie Lian really wanted to refuse, but meeting Hua Cheng’s expectant gaze, the refusal died in his throat. “I…will not lose it again. I’ll try to, at least…”
Hua Cheng smiled, satisfied, and proceeded to encircle Xie Lian’s neck with his arms, putting on the chain. Xie Lian hoped that his reddened face was not noticeable.
Luckily, Xie Lian did not happen to lose the ring again. When he discovered the real nature of the gift, he was so ashamed of having lost something so important that he asked Hua Cheng to take it back. Of course, he still kept it at the end.