Xie Lian stood frozen, caught between caution and curiosity. Hua Cheng's gaze never wavered from him, an unsettling yet strangely familiar intensity in his eyes. Despite the centuries that had passed, there was something about the Ghost King that was unmistakably… *personal.*
"I'm not here to cause trouble, Your Highness," Hua Cheng said softly, as if sensing Xie Lian's hesitation. "I only wish to speak with you."
Xie Lian's expression hardened slightly, masking the swirl of emotions within him. He had heard the rumors about Hua Cheng—the Ghost King who could bend the heavens to his will, the figure who could both frighten gods and charm mortals. But despite his reputation, Xie Lian was not easily intimidated. Not anymore.
"What do you want?" Xie Lian asked, his voice calm but laced with a subtle edge.
Hua Cheng's lips curved into a playful smile. "Straight to the point, as always," he remarked. "I simply wanted to see you again. After all, it's not often that the Crown Prince of Xianle returns to the Heavenly Court after falling twice."
The words stung, though Xie Lian showed no sign of it. Hua Cheng was notorious for his sharp tongue, but there was something in his tone—a depth of understanding—that made Xie Lian pause.
"You know nothing of me," Xie Lian replied quietly, his eyes narrowing. "I've had enough of being a spectacle in this place. If you seek amusement, you will find none here."
Hua Cheng's gaze softened, just for a moment, as he took a step closer. "Perhaps you misunderstand me, Xie Lian. I'm not here to mock you, nor to amuse myself. I simply want to… *offer you a choice*."
Xie Lian blinked, surprised by the unexpected offer. "A choice?"
"Yes," Hua Cheng said, his voice becoming more serious. "A choice that the gods have kept from you. A choice that could change everything. The Heavenly Court is not all it seems. There are forces at play here—forces that you have yet to understand. But I can help you see beyond the veil."
Xie Lian's heart skipped a beat, though his face remained stoic. "What are you talking about? What is it that you think you know that I don't?"
Hua Cheng tilted his head, eyes glinting with hidden knowledge. "Let me ask you, Xie Lian—what if your fall was not just a result of your own failings? What if there was something more? Something *deliberate*? The gods are not as infallible as they would have you believe. I can show you the truth."
The words hung in the air like a heavy fog, and for a moment, Xie Lian felt a shiver run down his spine. His mind raced. He had always believed that his downfall had been caused by his own mistakes, by his kingdom's collapse, by the choices he had made. But what if there was more to it? What if everything he had been told was a lie?
"Why should I trust you?" Xie Lian's voice was firm, though there was a flicker of doubt that he couldn't quite suppress.
Hua Cheng smiled, a slow, knowing smile that didn't quite reach his eyes. "Because I've been where you are. I've seen what the gods are capable of, and I've lived through it. I understand what it's like to be abandoned, to be betrayed."
Xie Lian met his gaze, searching for any sign of deception. But all he found was a strange sincerity—one that seemed to call out to the parts of him that had long been buried.
"I don't need your sympathy," Xie Lian replied, his voice colder now. "I've walked my path alone for centuries. I don't need anyone's help."
Hua Cheng's smile faded, and for the first time, Xie Lian saw something raw—something vulnerable—behind his eyes. "You don't have to walk alone, Xie Lian. You never did."
The words lingered between them, and Xie Lian's heart clenched. The weight of his solitude had always been his constant companion, but hearing those words, so simple yet so profound, caused something to stir within him.
"I'm not asking you to trust me blindly," Hua Cheng continued, his voice gentle but firm. "I'm asking you to see the truth for yourself. If you want to remain a puppet of the gods, then go on. But if you want to understand the truth, if you want to see the world as it really is, then you must come with me."
Xie Lian's mind whirled. He had never been one to make hasty decisions, but something about Hua Cheng's presence—his words—struck a chord within him. The very essence of the Ghost King seemed to pulse with a strange kind of power, a power that both terrified and intrigued him.
"I've seen what you're capable of, Hua Cheng," Xie Lian said quietly. "And I'm not sure if that's something I want to be a part of."
Hua Cheng's smile returned, though this time it was softer, almost understanding. "I'm not asking you to join me in anything you don't wish to. I'm simply offering you a chance to *know*. The rest is up to you."
There was a long silence, and Xie Lian stood there, torn between his duty to the Heavenly Court and the allure of a truth he had long sought to uncover. The world of gods and mortals was shrouded in mystery, but maybe, just maybe, Hua Cheng could help him uncover it.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Xie Lian spoke.
"Very well," he said, his voice steady. "Show me this truth you speak of."
Hua Cheng's smile deepened, and for the first time since his ascension, Xie Lian felt a sense of anticipation stir in his chest.
It was a step into the unknown, a step into the realm where gods and ghosts intertwined beneath the celestial veil.
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