Heaven Official's Blessing: Tian Guan Ci Fu (Novel) Vol. 2(10)
Xie Lian suddenly recalled that Fu Yao had mentioned that some upper court heavenly officials, under special circumstances, had the ability to transform their appearance. While at Banyue, Nan Feng had also uttered an incomplete sentence:
“The Wind Master had always been…”
Had always been? Been what?
A man?!
After getting dragged for a few steps, Xie Lian still couldn’t fully process this information.
“Um…Lord Wind Master, you—you—you—why did you disguise yourself as a woman last time?!”
“What? Was I not beautiful?” the Wind Master asked.
“Yes? But…” Xie Lian was still confused.
“If I was beautiful, then there’s no but! As long as I look good!” The Wind Master smiled brightly. “Of course, it’s because I knew I’d look good that I was in disguise!”
Having said that, he looked like he’d suddenly come up with an idea and closed his fan. He gave Xie Lian a once-over with a calculating expression, then spoke after a moment.
“Speaking of which, don’t we need to go undercover for this mission to Ghost City?”
“…???” Xie Lian replied.
Chapter 13:
Entering Ghost City, the Crown Prince Chances Upon the Ghost King
MUCH ASHAMED, it wasn’t until four hours later that Xie Lian had the time to sneak a peek at his scroll to finally learn this Wind Master’s backstory.
The Five Elemental Masters of the Heavenly Realm used their titles in place of their surnames. For example, before the Earth Master ascended, his mortal name was Ming Yi. After ascension, he was addressed as “Earth Master Yi.” As for the Wind Master, his former name was Shi Qingxuan, but after ascension he was called “Wind Master Qingxuan.” Befitting of his title, his personality was like a breeze: he was sociable and generous, uncaring about petty details, and very popular in the heavens, as was apparent from him easily tossing out ten thousand merits in the communication array. But at the end of the day, as his older brother was the god who controlled mortal wealth, of course the Wind Master was generous and uncaring about petty details.
Indeed, the older brother of Wind Master Qingxuan was the one they called “Water Tyrant,” the Water Master Wudu.
Descending to the lower realms together, the two gods walked side by side, chatting as they traveled. Xie Lian had his arms crossed, and he commented sincerely, “The Pei family producing two ascended generals under one name was already a legend. But you and your brother ascending at the same time, one wind, one water, that is truly a tale of wonder.”
It must be known that, in a million people, there might not be even one with the ability to ascend. Pei Ming and Pei Xiu were separated by a few hundred years, and Pei Xiu wasn’t even a direct descendant; he was from Pei Ming’s brother’s branch of the family, a grand-who-knows-how-many-times-nephew. The Water Master Wudu and the Wind Master Qingxuan were true blood-related brothers, a genuine pair of ascended officials from the same house, and thus truly incredible.
Shi Qingxuan laughed it off. “It’s nothing. My brother and I grew up in the same place, went to school under the same teacher, and cultivated the same path, so naturally we ascended together in the same lifetime.”
That was something Xie Lian also learned when he was cramming from the scroll earlier. Of the two elemental masters, Shi Wudu ascended first, but after only a few years, his brother Shi Qingxuan also successfully transcended a Heavenly Tribulation. Mortals often worshipped the two heavenly officials together in the same temple and praised them as equals. It was obvious that the two brothers enjoyed an excellent relationship. The Water Master must be the reason why Pei Ming wouldn’t touch the Wind Master, as San Lang and Nan Feng had mentioned. After all, the brother of the Water Tyrant was not one to be picked on so easily.
Having thought thus far, another point came to Xie Lian’s mind. He considered it before asking, “Lord Wind Master. At the Palace of Divine Might, from the way General Pei spoke, it sounded as if he shared a friendship with your brother. Won’t your filing the complaint against General Pei Junior affect—”
“Nah,” Shi Qingxuan replied. “My brother already knows I can’t stand Pei Ming.”
“Knowing is one thing, acting is another,” Xie Lian said. “Won’t this cause a rift between Lord Water Master and General Pei?”
“If it caused a rift, even better! I wish my brother would stop hanging out with him and leave that ‘Three Tumors’ label behind one day,” Shi Qingxuan said.
Xie Lian stopped. “What ‘Three Tumors’?”
Shi Qingxuan exclaimed, astonished, “What?! You don’t know about that either? Fine, all right. I know now you’re not up to date on anything. You can just listen for giggles. ‘The Three Tumors’ is the moniker given to the three heavenly officials who have a bad rep with basically everyone but are best buddies with each other: namely, Ming Guang, Ling Wen, and my brother.”
I can’t believe it’s not Xie Lian, Xie Lian, and Xie Lian, Xie Lian thought.
Shi Qingxuan fanned his Wind Master fan and continued, “Even if I can’t stand him, the whole business this time around was Little Pei’s fault. There’s no way I’d let Pei Ming pin this on the State Preceptor of Banyue and protect Little Pei. It doesn’t matter if you’re a mortal, or a god, or a ghost, you have to be responsible for your own actions. Bullying a little girl is low.”