This child was no more than seven or eight years old.
It was truly a thin and small one. After falling from such a high place,
His small body shivered in his arms, like a newborn cub of some animal. However, through the gaps of the messy bandages on his head, an enormous black eye peeked out. Within the eye, a snow-white shadow was reflected.
It stared at him without blinking.
It was as if nothing else could be seen.
He could only hear the sound of cold air being sucked in from all directions.
Xie Lian slightly raised his head, but his heart suddenly sank. Because …
Out of the corner of his eye, he suddenly saw something.
On the ground not far in front of him, a golden object had landed.
The golden mask that covered his face.
It had fallen.
Xie Lian landed in the middle of Shenwu Street.
The honor guard was several feet behind him and had yet to arrive. A shocking change suddenly occurred.
The steady footsteps of the warriors were disrupted by this sudden accident, and the beautiful maidens who were scattering flowers also revealed expressions of fear.
The golden carriage stopped. A few tall white horses raised their hooves and neighed.
A few discordant sounds came from the flute. Some people left.
Some people stayed. They were unable to quickly unify their pace. The situation seemed to be getting out of control. The crowd on both sides of the street had yet to react.
On the tall building, the Xian Le Emperor suddenly stood up. He looked at his son's figure with a grave and concerned expression.
With him standing up, how could the other nobles dare to sit down? One by one, they stood up in panic. The Imperial Advisor's butt had just warmed up from sitting on the stool, but now it was cold again. Just as he was rapidly considering whether or not he should immediately kneel down and blame himself, Qi Rong had already jumped onto the railing. Rolling up his sleeves, he angrily said, "What now? What's going on? Why is the procession in disorder? What is this group of trash doing? Are you all eating plain rice? You can't even pull a horse?! "
The Empress's face was pale. Her eyebrows slightly wrinkled as she hurriedly ordered people to pull him down. Seeing that the crowd had begun to faintly stir, a big mess was about to break out. At this moment, Xie Lian suddenly stood up.
Normally, the noble Crown Prince would hide deep within the Imperial Palace or seclude himself in the Imperial Training Grounds. He almost never had the opportunity to show his face in front of the common people. This was the first time. As a result, everyone couldn't help but be attracted to him and look over. With this glance, they couldn't help but hold their breaths. The young man had long eyebrows and beautiful eyes, and was extremely handsome. His entire body was dazzling, and no one dared to look at him directly. He held the child in one hand and slowly raised the sword in the other, pointing it at the platform.
The fiendish demon was originally observing the situation from the platform. Seeing this, he paused for a moment, then suddenly tapped his foot.
The crowd cried out in alarm. The demon's figure was like a black cloud, sweeping across the sky, flying to the pillar where the saber had been nailed. Grabbing the saber hilt, he pulled it out of the pillar along with the cracks. With a flip of his body, he landed in the middle of the street, in front of the warriors.
Seeing that he instantly understood his intentions and came over to cooperate, Xie Lian quietly praised, "Good Mu Qing!"
This time, the Spirit Pleasing martial artist and demon both got off the stage. One black and one white, one saber and one sword, finally clashed once again. Everyone's blood surged, and they were boiling once again. On the tall building, the expressions of the nobles also relaxed. They finally looked better.
The fiendish demon acted like he was going to slash the young child in the warrior's arms. Holding the saber with both hands, he swung it horizontally towards Xie Lian. The two of them pretended to tear each other apart a few times. As they fought, they once again flew back to the platform. Feng Xin took advantage of the fact that everyone's attention was diverted to roll across the street. Grabbing his mask, he once again rushed into the ceremonial array and shouted in a low voice, "Don't panic! Don't panic! Just act as if nothing happened and continue walking! Finish this circle before returning to the palace! "
The people in the ceremonial array hurriedly gathered their thoughts and returned to their respective positions, reinvigorating themselves. On the other side, as soon as they returned to the platform, Mu Qing's attacks became even more ferocious. Xie Lian received several saber strikes, but at this time, he heard the child in his arms cry out. It seemed that he had been caught up in the saber light and sword energy, and was extremely frightened. Xie Lian's left hand hugged him tightly, and he said in a low voice, "Don't be afraid!"
Hearing this, the young child tightened his grip on the clothes on his chest. Xie Lian held the child in one hand, and wielded his sword with the other, skillfully and easily. After a while, he felt the child in his arms raise his trembling hand again, tightly hugging his shoulder, as if hugging a life-saving straw. He said again, "Don't worry, nothing will be able to hurt you."
After saying this, he shouted in a low voice, "Mu Qing!"
The demon opposite him nodded imperceptibly, and Xie Lian thrust out his sword.
Thus, in front of everyone's eyes, the Yueshen martial artist finally pierced the demon's heart, killing him on the spot!
Wearing the demon mask, Mu Qing clutched his' wound 'and staggered a few steps back. After struggling for a while, he finally fell to the ground with a' thump ', motionless.
Upstairs, Qi Rong laughed loudly, clapping his hands and saying, "Dead! Dead! Cousin Crown Prince has killed the demon! "
At the same time, the majestic procession of the Heaven Worshipping Procession continued to advance, heading towards the palace. They had already finished up and were preparing to enter the palace gate. Because of the timely remedy and the exciting plot, not only did the common people not complain about the unexpected interlude just now, they were even more enthusiastic. Countless people shouted 'Your Highness' and 'God' as they followed behind the platform. Tens of thousands of people surged towards the palace. Several generals had no choice but to send out several times the number of warriors and soldiers to stop these overly excited common people. However, in the end, they were unable to stop them. The tide of people broke through the defensive line and swarmed forward.
On the tall building, the Xian Le Emperor shouted, "Guards! Warriors! "
Coincidentally, at this time, the entire honor guard of several hundred people had entered the palace gate. The vermilion gate closed behind the platform, and the fluttering flags no longer fluttered in the wind. The common people pounced on empty air, pouncing on the gate. The sounds of knocking and cheering shook the heavens.
Inside the tightly closed palace gate, on the platform, two 'clangs' could be heard. The white clothed Yueshen martial artist and the black clothed demon both threw away the weapons in their hands and heavily fell to the ground.
Xie Lian's entire body was drenched in sweat. Tearing off the layers of gorgeous divine clothing, he let out a long breath and said, "So dangerous, so dangerous. I'm so tired. "
Mu Qing also took off the heavy demon mask and silently let out a breath. However, he did not complain about being tired.
When he turned his head, he saw that Xie Lian was still carrying the small child in his arms. He frowned and did not say anything. Feng Xin, on the other hand, was chasing after the platform. As he ran, he asked, "Your Highness, why did you also bring this child in?"
The small child was lying on Xie Lian's chest. His small body was stiff and motionless. He did not even dare to breathe loudly. Xie Lian sat up and said, "If I didn't bring him in, did I just leave him outside? The streets are so messy. Such a small child would be trampled to death in a short while. "
Finished speaking, he picked up the small child and caressed his small head twice. He casually asked, "Little friend, how old are you?"
The child's eyes did not blink and his mouth did not make a sound. Xie Lian continued to ask him, coaxing, "Why did you fall down just now?"
Mu Qing replied, "Your Highness, this child probably did not dare to speak. He was scared silly."
Xie Lian caressed the small child's head twice more. He felt that this child was dull and did not find it interesting. He stopped caressing and commented, "Silly. Feng Xin, later find someone to bring him out from the side door. See if he is injured. His face is wrapped in bandages. "
Feng Xin stretched out his hand and said, "Alright. Pass him over. "
Xie Lian carried the small child and passed him over. Who knew that he did not pass him over. Feng Xin asked, "Your Highness, why are you not letting go?"
Xie Lian asked curiously, "Should I let go?" When he looked down again, he did not know whether to laugh or cry. It turned out that the small child's hands were tightly grabbing onto the hem of his clothes and had not let go.
The few of them were startled and immediately burst into laughter. Xie Lian cultivated in the Huangji Temple. Many good men and women, either because they wanted to see a rare sight, or because of their faith, racked their brains and racked their brains to see the Crown Prince. After seeing him once, they wanted to see him a second time, wishing that they could become Daoists together with him. They did not expect this child to have such a style at such a young age. At the side of the platform, there were many young Daoists cultivating in Huang Ji Monastery. They all laughed and said, "Your Highness the Crown Prince, this child does not want to leave!"
Xie Lian laughed and said, "Is that so? That won't do. I still have to do my own things. Little child, go home. "
Hearing this, the child finally let go of his hands slowly and did not hold onto his clothes anymore. Feng Xin then grabbed him. That small child was held in Feng Xin's hands, but his big black eyes were still staring straight at Xie Lian. This expression was as if he was possessed by a ghost. Seeing this, many Daoists started to have doubts in their hearts. Xie Lian did not even look at the child. He only said to Feng Xin, "Don't carry him like he is a piece of trash. You are scaring the child."
Feng Xin then placed the small child on the ground and said, "Stop laughing. The State Preceptor is going crazy. Your Highness, you better think about how you are going to explain this later. "
Hearing this, everyone stopped laughing.
An hour later. Huang Ji Monastery, Shen Wu Peak, Shen Wu Hall.
Fragrant clouds lingered and the sound of chanting could be heard. The State Preceptor and the three Deputy State Preceptors sat at one side of the hall. Their faces were full of worry. Mu Qing was in front of them. Xie Lian was also kneeling. However, there was no one in front of him. It was only the golden statue of the Shen Wu Heavenly Emperor. Feng Xin followed him and knelt behind him.
The State Preceptor picked up the meticulously carved golden mask. After a while, he sighed and said, "Your Highness the Crown Prince, Your Highness the Crown Prince."
Even if he was kneeling, Xie Lian still knelt straight. He raised his head and said, "I am here."
The State Preceptor lamented and said, "Do you know that in the history of Xian Le Country, there have been so many Upper Yuan Sacrifice to the Heavens, but there has never been one where the ceremonial staff platform only went around the city three times. Three times! "
Every ceremony and every arrangement of the Upper Yuan Sacrificial Heaven Roaming Ceremony had a hidden meaning behind it. The ceremonial staff platform going around the city symbolized a year of praying for peace and prosperity for the country. Therefore, the number of times the Upper Yuan Sacrifice to the Heavens had gone around meant that there was no need to hold such a grand event for many years. Not only was it a good omen, it also saved money. Three laps, didn't that mean it could only be guaranteed for three years???
Moreover, what was even worse was that the golden mask on the Yueshen martial artist's face had fallen during the ceremony.
The people of Xian Le Country had believed since ancient times that the spiritual energy of the human body was gathered in the five senses. The head was where a person's soul was located, and they must offer the best to the heavens. Therefore, during the ceremony, the martial artists had to wear a golden mask to cover their faces. This was because their faces could only be admired by the gods, and mortals were not qualified to see them.
The State Preceptor was exasperated and said, "In the past, the Yueshen martial artists were guaranteed at least five laps, and at most fifteen or sixteen laps. What about you? Even with your eyes closed, you could walk fifty laps! One hundred laps! In the end, you strangled yourself to death on the third lap. Why didn't you choke me to death first??? This is great, Your Highness the Crown Prince, your name will go down in history, and I will also go down in history with you! "
In the main hall, no one dared to speak. Xie Lian's expression was calm, and he said calmly, "State Preceptor, why don't you look at it this way. If that child fell to his death and no one caught him, wouldn't that be an ominous sign? Wouldn't the ceremony be interrupted as well? Now, at least it ended in a decent manner, and this is already the best result. For something like this to happen, it can only be said to be an accident. "
The State Preceptor was speechless for a moment, and then said, "This child! There are so many royal warriors here, can't any one of them go and catch him? Even if you don't catch him, you might break an arm or a leg, but you won't die from the fall. Take a few more steps forward, and fight beautifully. In a while, no one will care about what just fell. "
Xie Lian raised his eyebrows, and said, "State Preceptor, you know. In that kind of situation, other than me, there wouldn't be a second person who could react in time, and there wouldn't be a second person who could catch him unscathed. If he didn't catch him, one would die. If he caught him, two would die. "
His tone was as it should be, and very certain. The State Preceptors also knew that what he said was the truth, so they couldn't refute him. Seeing him kneeling in front of the statue of God, yet not taking it seriously, they were curious, amused, and proud. This precious disciple of his, Jin Guier, couldn't get angry with him no matter what. He could only pull out a few handfuls of hair, and use the sharp pain on his scalp to cover up the sadness in his heart. Pausing, the State Preceptor then said, "There's more!"
Xie Lian slightly lowered his head, and said, "This disciple is listening."
The State Preceptor said, "You went on stage today, and you did well. But no matter how well you did, you can't suddenly change it without even giving us a heads up. Today, His Majesty and the Empress were both scared to death by you. Do you know what would have happened if you didn't make it in time? "
Xie Lian's long eyebrows rose, and he curiously asked, "State Preceptor, about this matter, didn't I ask you before today?"
The State Preceptor was also startled, and said, "You asked me before? Before today? When? "