Chapter 9: Kunlun Part 2

“What’s a ‘scion of the Xiao Clan’?” Chaosheng asked the guardian.

“A royal clan from the mortal world,” the robust man explained.

Xiao Kun followed the dragon named Yuzhou into the White Jade Palace to pay respects to Li Chaosheng, the sole master of the Queen Mother’s Garden of Life.

“Yuzhou,” Chaosheng laughed, “it’s been a long time since you last came.”

“Indeed.” Yuzhou introduced, “This is Brother Xiao Kun of the Xiao family. Xiao Kun, this is Chaosheng. The one beside him is Pi Changge. Lord Pi is the guardian here.”

Xiao Kun dropped to one knee and said softly, “Xiao Kun pays respects to Your Highness Chaosheng.”

“Mm.” Chaosheng said, “What brings you here? Ordinary people can’t come to this place. Are you a mortal? Lift your head so I can see.”

Xiao Kun removed his cloak, revealing his face. He looked up and met Chaosheng’s gaze.

Chaosheng: “!!!”

Chaosheng froze for an instant, his heart surging with turmoil. This mortal… this mortal…

“Cough!” Yuzhou reminded Chaosheng.

Chaosheng came back to his senses and said, “You’re… you’re really good-looking!”

Chaosheng’s face was full of shock as he turned to the robust man Pi Changge. “Isn’t he super handsome?”

“Mm.” Pi Changge carefully appraised Xiao Kun and said, “Yes, this little bro is indeed very handsome. He has a pair of Nether Eyes, which is rare among mortals.”

Yuzhou remained calm and said, “He’s a descendant of the Liao Xiao Family. Recently, he’s been running into walls everywhere…”

“There’s no justice!” Chaosheng said. “Who would let someone this good-looking run into walls everywhere?”

Yuzhou: “…”

Chaosheng immediately stepped down from the throne and walked straight up to Xiao Kun. “Get up quickly.”

Xiao Kun had no choice but to stand. He towered over Chaosheng, who only reached his shoulder.

Xiao Kun sighed. “This matter is a long story.”

“Mm, mm!” Chaosheng could only marvel inwardly: My goodness, how is this man so good-looking? Having such a peerless beauty stand before him felt almost unreal.

But Chaosheng restrained himself, maintaining respect toward Xiao Kun without excessive enthusiasm.

Xiao Kun met his gaze. Being praised to his face made him blush, and he said awkwardly, “Your Highness is also… extremely… good-looking.”

Chaosheng said, “Mm, huh? Is your father a War Dead Corpse Ghost, or your mother?”

Shock appeared on Xiao Kun’s face. As a child, he had only vaguely learned from his mother that his father belonged to the Ghost Clan lineage. His maternal uncle’s family had always kept it taboo, yet this youth before him had casually revealed the truth!

“It’s my father,” Xiao Kun replied. “Perhaps. I myself have never confirmed it personally.”

Chaosheng’s eyes brimmed with admiration. Yuzhou had a long explanation prepared, but seeing Chaosheng like this, he fell silent.

“How old are you?” Chaosheng suddenly snapped back and asked.

“In reply to Your Little Highness,” Xiao Kun said, “I am twenty-four this year.”

“Ah,” Chaosheng laughed, “a big brother then.”

Chaosheng turned back, intending to return to the throne, but he couldn’t help wanting to stay closer to Xiao Kun, so he sat on the steps instead.

Yuzhou waited until Chaosheng had admired the handsome man enough before saying, “To make a long story short: Brother Xiao’s nation was destroyed. He protected his young master and escaped, but in Yinchuan City, they were framed. The young master was even kidnapped.”

Xiao Kun remained silent throughout, not daring to read Chaosheng’s mind—after all, he had come seeking aid.

“Young master, mm,” Chaosheng said. “Is he the one your heart is set on?”

Xiao Kun clarified, “No, my relationship with Yelu Yari is pure. He sees me as a brother or master.”

Chaosheng: “No matter. Yuzhou, continue?”

Yuzhou went on, “Brother Xiao is the head of the Great Liao Demon-Exorcism Division, the orthodox lineage of exorcists in the world today. Since the Tang Dynasty, the Exorcism Division has been under the care of Yaojin Palace and granted the Dragon Soaring Jade by the Ghost Clan. Thus, following ancient records, Brother Xiao found Yaojin Palace, which has deep ties to the Exorcism Division.”

Chaosheng said, “And you just happen to live in Yaojin Palace.”

Yuzhou explained, “I’ve long ceased concerning myself with worldly affairs. Now Shenzhou’s nations war among themselves. It’s been over three hundred years since the great chaos of the An-Shi Rebellion and the last sealing of the Heavenly Demon.”

As Chaosheng listened to Yuzhou’s explanation, his eyes never left Xiao Kun. Their gazes met, and Chaosheng smiled warmly at him again.

“The year I came to White Jade Palace at six,” Chaosheng said, “Shenzhou was divided into five kingdoms: Song, Liao, Xia, Jin, and Dali. Right, Great Liao—Liao, I remember now. That nation is gone?”

Yuzhou said gravely, “Precisely. And this Brother Xiao holds an ancient divine weapon of the White Jade Palace, the ‘Wanxiang.’ His family background and sect must have ties to Kunlun Mountain…”

“Let me see?” Chaosheng said.

Xiao Kun untied his Tang Dao, held it in both hands, and offered it to Chaosheng.

Chaosheng merely placed his hand on the scabbard, and the Tang Dao slid slightly from its sheath, casting blue light from within the blade.

Pi Changge said, “Isn’t this the one Le Wan Shuang took to the mortal world back then?”

“You two know my master?!” Xiao Kun was shocked.

Chaosheng explained, “Le Wan Shuang was originally a divine servant of the White Jade Palace. Twenty years ago, she left and took the divine weapon ‘Senluo’ and Myriad Phenomena Blade from among the divine weapons. I wasn’t even human yet back then.”

Xiao Kun glanced at Yuzhou with doubt, but Yuzhou signaled with his eyes not to ask further.

Xiao Kun then said, “Since it belongs to the White Jade Palace, it should return to its rightful owner.”

With that, he held the Wanxiang blade flat, ready to hand it back to Chaosheng. But Chaosheng waved him off. “You keep it and play with it. A divine weapon suits a beauty like you!”

Xiao Kun broke out in a sweat.