Xie Lian thought, “I didn’t ask for your names…”

Then, Ling Wen messaged, “Your Highness, two junior martial officials from the Middle Celestial Realm are willing to assist, they’ve gone to find you, they should arrive soon.”

The Middle Celestial Realm was in contrast to the Upper Celestial Realm. Celestial officials were broadly divided into two categories: those who ascended and those who didn’t. The Upper Celestial Realm consisted entirely of ascended officials, only a hundred in the whole Celestial Realm, extremely precious. The Middle Celestial Realm officials were appointed, technically called “fellow officials,” but often shortened.

Was there a Lower Celestial Realm?

No.

During Xie Lian’s first ascension, there was. But then they realized a problem: saying “I’m from the Lower Celestial Realm” sounded inferior. Many were talented and powerful, only needing a heavenly tribulation to become true officials. So, someone suggested changing it to “Middle Celestial Realm,” which sounded better. Xie Lian took a while to get used to it.

Xie Lian looked at the two junior martial officials, their faces grim, not seeming like they wanted to help, but to kill him. He asked, “Ling Wen, they don’t seem willing to help, but to kill me. Did you trick them?”

He couldn’t hear Ling Wen’s response. His power was depleted from the long journey. Xie Lian smiled, “Nan Feng and Fu Yao? Thank you for your assistance.”

They nodded, seeming to be from prominent war gods. Xie Lian asked the tea server for two more cups, poured tea, and asked, “Which god are you under?”

Nan Feng, “Nan Yang Palace.”

Fu Yao, “Xuan Zhen Palace.”

“…”

This was chilling.

Xie Lian swallowed his tea, “Did your generals send you?”

Both, “Our generals don’t know we’re here.”

Xie Lian, “Do you know who I am?”

If they were tricked, it wouldn’t be worth it.

Nan Feng, “You’re the Crown Prince.”

Fu Yao, “You’re the righteous path, the center of the world.”

Xie Lian was taken aback, asking Nan Feng, “Did he roll his eyes just now?”

Nan Feng, “Yes. Tell him to leave.”

Nan Yang and Xuan Zhen didn’t get along. This wasn’t a secret. Xie Lian wasn’t surprised, as Feng Xin and Mu Qing didn’t get along either. Now, they didn’t need to pretend. Even their followers didn’t like each other. Nan Yang Palace and Xuan Zhen Palace were constantly at odds. These two were a prime example. Fu Yao sneered, “Ling Wen said volunteers could come, why should I go back?”

“Volunteer,” said with that expression, was unconvincing. Xie Lian said, “I’ll confirm. Are you truly volunteers? Don’t force yourselves.”

Both, “We’re volunteers.”

Xie Lian thought, they probably meant “we’re suicidal.”

“Anyway—”

Xie Lian, “Let’s discuss business. You know why we’re here, so I won’t repeat it…”

Both, “We don’t know.”

“…”

Xie Lian took out the scroll, “Let me explain.”

Many years ago, a couple got married near Yu Jun Mountain.

They were very much in love. The groom waited for the bridal procession, but the bride didn’t arrive. He went to her family’s home, but they said she’d already left. They reported it to the authorities, but she vanished. Some suspected she’d run away. Years later, it happened again.

The bride disappeared. But this time, they found a foot on a small road.

After that, it continued. Over the next hundred years, seventeen brides disappeared near Yu Jun Mountain. Sometimes years passed without incident, sometimes two disappeared in a month. A terrifying legend spread: a ghost groom lived in Yu Jun Mountain, abducting brides and eating the procession.

This wouldn’t have reached the heavens, as many brides were safe. It was just that fewer people dared to marry in that area, and local weddings were smaller. But the seventeenth bride’s father was an official. He loved his daughter and hired forty guards, yet she still disappeared.

This angered the father. He couldn’t do anything in the mortal realm, so he performed rituals and gave alms, causing a stir, finally alerting the celestial officials.

Xie Lian, “That’s basically it.”

Seeing their uncooperative expressions, he repeated it. Nan Feng looked up, frowning, “What do the missing brides have in common?”

Xie Lian, “Rich or poor, beautiful or ugly, married or not. No pattern. We can’t determine the ghost groom’s preferences.”

Nan Feng hummed, taking a sip of tea. Fu Yao ignored the tea, calmly wiping his fingers, “Crown Prince, why assume it’s a male ghost groom? No one has seen it, how do you know its gender or age? Are you assuming?”

Xie Lian smiled, “The scroll is from Ling Wen’s officials, ‘ghost groom’ is just a folk term. But you’re right.”

After speaking, Xie Lian found the officials insightful, though unfriendly. Seeing it was late, they left the shop. Xie Lian walked for a while, noticing the officials weren’t following. They looked at him in confusion. Nan Feng asked, “Where are you going?”