Mu Qing/History

## Mu Qing

* Manhua
* Donghua

## The Crown Prince's Servant

Mu Qing was born to a poor household in a dark alley in the royal capital of Xianle. He lived with his mother, as his father was a sinner and had been beheaded. At first his mother was able to earn some money by seamstressing, but after her eyes went bad Mu Qing was their only source of income as an errand boy later on.

He used to be a servant in the Royal Holy Pavilion on Taicang Mountain, the Imperial Taoist Temple where Xie Lian later enrolled and cultivated. Mu Qing's chores included sweeping floors, serving tea and the like. The temple's requirements for disciples were extremely strict and since Mu Qing came from a poor background, he didn't meet the qualifications. Only when Xie Lian had noticed his potential and recommended him personally, was Mu Qing given the opportunity to study cultivation and become a personal attendant of Xie Lian. During this time, he was responsible for dressing him and taking care of other everyday needs. This was also likely when he first met Feng Xin, whom he has shared a rivalry with since.

As a mere servant and a youth of poor upbringing, he was looked down upon and disliked by many, including the State Preceptor of Xianle, Mei Nianqing. Even after Xie Lian gave him the position of personal attendant in hopes of people being nicer to Mu Qing, he continued to be bullied. However, he was never allowed to fight back as that would've caused him to be kicked out.

Despite his work and studies, Mu Qing collected some fruits on top of the mountain to bring to his mother whenever he could. Fellow disciples harassed him because of this, accusing him of stealing although what he was doing wasn't against the rules. He was liked in his home area and the poor children got excited whenever Mu Qing would visit, being comfortable around him and even calling him "Gege". Mu Qing gave them some of the cherries he picked.

## Deputy General

Mu Qing, along with Feng Xin, were appointed by Xie Lian as his deputy generals after his first ascension, thus they both became Heavenly Officials of the Lower Court. They were responsible for filtering a portion of the prayers sent to Xie Lian.

### Fall of Xianle

As one of his deputy generals and closest companions, he was naturally present during the fall of the Xianle nation. When Xie Lian was still figuring out how to save the people of Yong'an and his own kingdom, Mu Qing frequently tried to warn him that interferring too much could cause more trouble than necessary and that he will not be able to save everyone. At one point, him and Feng Xin became overwhelmed with the amount of prayers after the riots started to break out and the drought became even more severe.

However, despite everything, he still stood by Xie Lian's side throughout and followed his duties as his subordinate together with Feng Xin.

## First Banishment

After defying Jun Wu and descending to the mortal realm in order to try and save the Xianle kingdom, Xie Lian was banished, Feng Xin and Mu Qing thus losing their status in the Heavens as well. With Xianle taken over by Yong'an, Xie Lian, his parents, Feng Xin and Mu Qing all had to flee to avoid being captured. They ended up living in a simple shack, desperately trying to find jobs. As Mu Qing grew up poor, he tried to be rational and advised Feng Xin and Xie Lian to take the humiliation if it got them money, but was met with resistance from Feng Xin. He was also the first to suggest busking, but the other two reject the idea.

One day the three of them performed hard labour again, but Xie Lian and Feng Xin started a fight with others after a man talked down on the Crown Prince of Xianle. Mu Qing got pulled into the brawl and tried to hold the other two back from hurting the civilians, but it was useless and they all got kicked out without getting paid. Later explaining that this way of living will get them nowhere and with the motivation to take care of his own mother, Mu Qing then asked Xie Lian to allow him to leave. Although Xie Lian permitted it, they parted on bad terms.

### The Spiritual Mountain Incident

Mu Qing ended up becoming a Heavenly Official of the Lower Court once again. Many gods of the Upper Court were impressed by his and Feng Xin's martial skills when they were still deputy generals under Xie Lian. Thinking it a shame that they were also banished, some offered the opportunity to become a lower Heavenly Official in their palace, which Mu Qing did.

He accompanied over thirty Heavenly Officials to a spiritual mountain to cultivate alongside them. There, they met Xie Lian who had arrived before them. The Heavenly Officials began to try and chase Xie Lian away, but Xie Lian wouldn't back down, even willing to fight them with a tree branch. After a while Mu Qing stepped out and, although hesitant at first, destroyed the branch and told him to leave. When Xie Lian then tripped and fell, Mu Qing only stood by the side. As Xie Lian later ran down the mountain and fell again, Mu Qing offered to help him up this time, but Xie Lian refused. Mu Qing claimed he had no choice back there while Xie Lian only threw mud at him. At one point Mu Qing couldn't take it anymore and left.

Mu Qing came to visit the residence of Xie Lian and the others later, bringing sacks of rice to help them out in their dire situation. However, Xie Lian rejected his aid. After Feng Xin also discovered what transpired on the mountain, they both tried to chase Mu Qing out, throwing the sacks of rice and yelling at him until Mu Qing eventually left.

### Birth of the Fetus Spirit

At some point before his ascension to the Upper Court he came across Jian Lan still pregnant at the time. Although it is never explicitly explained what happened, Mu Qing later states he wanted to help her as he recognized her as a citizen of Xianle with relations to the royal family. He tried to save her child, but the fetus died anyway and was molded into a Fierce. When the fetus emerged as a ghost for the first time, it had a moment of clarity and left a bite mark on Mu Qing as it assumed he must have been the one to carve it out of his mother's womb. Mu Qing still carries this bite scar to this day.

## Martial God of the Southwest

He later ascended on his own by cleaning up the remaining resentful spirits that roamed in the old capital of Xianle. Thus, Mu Qing became a Heavenly Official of the Upper Court and the martial god of the southwest who possesses around seven thousand temples for his palace in the present.

### Brocade Immortal

During Yin Yu's time as a Heavenly Official, Mu Qing had already been deemed one of the top-ranking martial gods and was present during the Brocade Immortal incident regarding Quan Yizhen. Following Jun Wu's order, Mu Qing and the other martial gods moved to take both him and Yin Yu down. As Yin Yu was trying to run away in distress, Mu Qing caught up to him, broke his arm and apprehended him.

## Xie Lian's Third Ascension

Xie Lian's third ascension eight hundred years after their seperation causes such a great impact that Mu Qing almost got hit by a giant clock that fell down, but he manages to destroy it before it could land on him. Xie Lian later apologizes for that incident in the spiritual communication array, their first conversation since their parting many centuries ago.

### Subordinate Fu Yao

*Main article: Fu Yao/History*
Disguised as Fu Yao, a made up subordinate of his own palace, Mu Qing accompanies Xie Lian on his first two missions in the mortal realm together with Nan Feng, an alter ego of Feng Xin.

The first encounter Mu Qing has with Xie Lian in his true appearance is during the trial regarding the Banyue incident. He is one of the witnesses called forward by Pei Ming to examine the corpse of A-Zhao and testify if the wounds were caused by Hua Cheng's scimitar.

## Guoshi Fang Xin

Mu Qing is also present in the Great Martial Hall when Xie Lian, Shi Qingxuan and Lang Qianqiu return from Ghost City. Although he remains mostly quiet, he's thrilled by the accusations Lang Qianqiu directs at Xie Lian and even questions Lang Qianqiu to keep the exchange going. Despite this, he's shocked when Xie Lian actually admits to being the Fang Xin Guoshi and his crimes.

Later Mu Qing visits Xie Lian in his palace, gifting him high quality medication since Xie Lian still had an injury on his arm. Feng Xin also comes into the palace and soon him and Mu Qing get into an argument which escalates into a messy fist fight. During their brawl, the doors of Xie Lian's palace suddenly swing open and silver butterflies swarm in, which causes them to aprubtly stop the fight. They erect a magical shield together, barely able to hold the butterflies off. After Xie Lian gets taken away by Hua Cheng they want to follow after but can't open the door due to Hua Cheng's trick. They begin to roll dice to solve the trick, however, they get caught up in different places after going through the doors, losing the dice they used at one point.

At one point they manage to get out, but only Feng Xin ends up pursuing Xie Lian. Once they return Mu Qing is already in the Great Martial Hall again. After the meeting, Mu Qing is appointed to helping Pei Ming with the Heavenly Capital's security along with Feng Xin.

## Arrest of Xuan Zhen Palace

Like most other Heavenly Officials, Mu Qing is present at the Mid Autumn Festival Banquet in the Heavenly Capital, pleased to win fifth place.

When Jian Lan is brought to the Great Martial Hall so they can find out who the father of the fetus spirit is, she seems to recognize Mu Qing, although nothing comes of it at that time.

Shortly after the meeting regarding the birth of a new Supreme from Tonglu Mountain, all the ghosts and demons locked up by the Heavenly Capital escaped. Mu Qing was tasked with capturing Jian Lan and Cuo Cuo, but he failed to do so. Before they got away however, Cuo Cuo recognized Mu Qing and pointed out it was him who carved it out of his mother's womb and turned it into a spirit. As there is a cultivation method to accelerate ascension that involves deceased babies, the Heavenly Officials arrested Mu Qing and suspended the entire Xuan Zhen palace for investigation, but he soon beat up the guarding official and escaped.

He disguises himself as Fu Yao once again, pursuing Jian Lan and Cuo Cuo in the mortal realm. After the incident at the Black Hearted Inn, he still continues to follow them to Tonglu Mountain. The Heavenly Officials are unaware of his whereabouts during that time, leaving an opening for the ghosts in the Southwest.

## Tonglu Mountain

He transforms back into his true form after Xie Lian confirms he had known that Fu Yao was an alter ego of his and they manage to free themselves from the pit of silk.

Mu Qing and Feng Xin follow Xie Lian and Hua Cheng through the Cave of Ten Thousand Gods, secretly making a plan while pretending to fight each other. At one point they manage to drag Xie Lian away and block Hua Cheng's path. Mu Qing reveals that all the statues in the cave are of Xie Lian as he recognized the robes due to his years as a servant beforehand. They go further, finding out about Hua Cheng's true identity as a mortal which deeply disturbs both him and Feng Xin. Mu Qing puts a Command Talisman on Xie Lian to keep him from going to Hua Cheng, who they come to face in a fight soon after. Mu Qing gets quickly defeated by Hua Cheng, getting wrapped up in the butterfly silk along with Feng Xin once again.

While White No-Face transforms into Mu Qing and Feng Xin shortly after to pursue Xie Lian and Hua Cheng, Mu Qing and Feng Xin are still stuck in the silk and continue to argue. Eventually Hua Cheng and Xie Lian make it back and release them. They follow the two until they all decide that Hua Cheng and Xie Lian will act as bait for White No-Face while the other two leave the cave to report back to the Heavens.

Mu Qing and Feng Xin manage to meet up with Pei Ming and the others in the forest near Wuyong river, planning to leave Tonglu Mountain. Xie Lian offers to pick the party up himself with the giant statue however. Mu Qing is again deeply disturbed and shocked at the sight of the statue, but the group travels with Xie Lian anyway. Suddenly they come to face a cloud of black smoke, the resentful spirits of Wuyong that yearn to consume flesh and metamorphosize into the Human Face Disease. In order to stop the souls, Mu Qing, Feng Xin, Pei Ming and Quan Yizhen transform into a sword for Xie Lian's statue to wield.

After Jun Wu arrives, the martial gods split up to head to different fortress cities in order to stop the resentful spirits that have been sent there. Mu Qing is the only one who is ordered to return to the Heavenly Capital immediately as he forcefully escaped from detention a while ago.

## Lockdown of the Heavenly Capital

As the Heavenly Officials are later discussing what to do with Qi Rong, Mu Qing enters the Great Martial Hall. A few martial officials were supposed to apprehend him, but they failed. Mu Qing orders for Jian Lan to be brought up and soon confronts her about the accusations. Before being able to properly interrogate her, Feng Xin steps in. Mu Qing theorizes that Jian Lan may have a grudge against him since she was Feng Xin's lover and Feng Xin had always belittled him and berated his wrong doings constantly.

They almost get into a fist fight, but quickly stop when Mei Nianqing is brought into the hall.

After Jun Wu's true identity is revealed, Mu Qing is one of the martial gods to attack him. However, he, along with all other martial gods, gets defeated and heavily injured in the matter of a few minutes. Later Jun Wu brings Mu Qing into the Great Martial Hall alone to interrogate him. Jun Wu demands that he would help harm Xie Lian, but Mu Qing refuses. In a fit of anger, Jun Wu then puts a Cursed Shackle on Mu Qing's wrist.

When the Heavenly Capital is on fire and being used as a weapon soon after, Mu Qing notices that Feng Xin is still searching for Jian Lan and Cuo Cuo. As he refuses to leave on his own, Mu Qing ultimately strikes him unconscious in order to save him from dying in the flames of the capital and bring him to Xie Lian. Before Mu Qing manages to get Feng Xin to safety however, he gets ambushed by Cuo Cuo. He loses Feng Xin in the chaos, although he hopes that he'd be saved by Jian Lan as she also arrived on the scene.

Mu Qing slips into the crowd after the battle against the capital is over, unnoticed by the others. He soon offers himself up to accompany Xie Lian, Hua Cheng and Mei Nianqing to Tonglu Mountain to seek out Jun Wu.

## Wuyong Palace

### Armory

There, Mei Nianqing leads the group as he knows where Jun Wu would be. They cross a river of lava by using empty-shelled corpses as stepping stones and soon arrive at the Palace of Wuyong. They enter and illuminate the surroundings, soon spotting Cuo Cuo. He snickers and spits at Mu Qing, although he dodges it. Xie Lian says they want to find Feng Xin, but Cuo Cuo quickly crawls away. Mu Qing points to a narrow path, claiming he saw the fetus spirit go that way and the group goes to investigate.

As they go deeper into the palace, Xie Lian feels an increasing murderous aura and notices that Mei Nianqing and Hua Cheng have disappeared. Mu Qing stops him from trying to go back, suggesting they move forward instead. They suddenly hear a man breathing and cautiously continue to go through the corridor. When they arrive in a chamber, Mu Qing carefully feels around while Xie Lian illuminates the room. He spots an unconscious person on the ground and recognizes him to be Feng Xin. After Feng Xin comes to his senses, he yells at Xie Lian to seize Mu Qing.

Feng Xin explains to Xie Lian that someone knocked him out from behind in the Heavenly Capital and that he could tell it was Mu Qing from his shadow. Mu Qing denies it and they start to argue. While Xie Lian acknowledges that Mu Qing has been acting weird and nervous on the way there, he is still unsure about who to side with. When Feng Xin accuses Mu Qing of hating him and Xie Lian, Mu Qing begins to brawl with Feng Xin.

They only stop their fight when they notice that Hua Cheng has reappeared. After they make sure that he's not an imposter, Mu Qing is accused to be the most suspicious one by Hua Cheng. Mu Qing's cursed shackle gets exposed and he tries to explain himself to the others, admitting that he was the one who knocked Feng Xin out but that it was not out of malicious intent. He describes how he tried to save Feng Xin but was ambushed and Xie Lian concludes Mu Qing came with them out of guilt and to make sure Feng Xin was still alive.

Hua Cheng follows up by asking what Jun Wu said to him. Mu Qing struggles to answer because he thinks the others won't believe him, but he soon gives in and tells them that Jun Wu wanted him to harm Xie Lian and that he refused. Mu Qing turns to Xie Lian when Feng Xin doesn't believe him, but Hua Cheng shields Xie Lian before he can respond and proceeds to expose the events that took place during Xie Lian's first banishment as a reason why Mu Qing can't be trusted.

Before the discussion can continue, the weapons in the room start to become active, longing to kill whoever was in there. The group tries to find a way out when they notice that Mu Qing suddenly disappeared.

### Lava Outbreak in the Palace

It's unknown how Mu Qing vanished and where he was taken, but he soon appears again while running away from the lava pouring into the palace from the outside. Xie Lian tries to get a hold of him with Ruoye, but he dodges. Only then do him and Feng Xin recognize that it's actually Mu Qing. Feng Xin tells him to stop, but Mu Qing continues to run away. He gets on one of the Empty-Shelled mutants to surf on the lava that has now covered the floor, going ahead before the others finally catch up to him. Mu Qing admits he's avoiding the three because he doesn't want to be attacked by them. Feng Xin tells him they won't attack him but still tries to question how he disappeared from the armory.

Because Mu Qing looks back at them, he doesn't see the end of the lava flow which leads down an extremely high cliff. When he does notice, he is unable to react before he falls off.

However, Mu Qing manages to thrust his saber into the side of the cliff and hang on to it, causing him to be parallel with the waterfall-like lava stream in front of him. While he doesn't burn to death immediately due to the layer of spiritual light on his body, the extreme heat causes his robes to partially catch on fire and the hilt to become scorching hot. He clings desperately onto the saber, visibly becoming more and more pained, yet he can't bring himself to call for help when he sees the other three.

Eventually he does call out to Xie Lian, but he doesn't receive an answer. Mu Qing comes to the conclusion that no one will save him so he tries to get out of the situation alone. He attempts to swing himself on top of the saber but the movement causes the sword to violently sink. The resentful spirits in the lava begin to pull him down and Mu Qing is unable to hold on any longer.

His fall is stopped by Ruoye wrapping around his wrist. It turns out Xie Lian had figured out a way to get to Mu Qing and now manages to haul him up onto the hilt with him. The sabre doesn't hold the two for long so Xie Lian throws him into the direction of Fang Xin which he had used as a stepping stone to get close. Mu Qing manages to compose himself and land steadily. He's about to jump onto the roof to the others when Xie Lian gets seized by White No-Face. Ruoye instinctively goes after Xie Lian, pulling down Mu Qing as well since he holds onto the silk. They both fall into the deep pit of lava, but a Distance-Shortening Array activates before they're submerged.

## Heaven Crossing Bridge

Mu Qing is sent to the Heaven Crossing Bridge along with Xie Lian. He waits for the other to wake up and when Xie Lian does, he immediately wants to search for Hua Cheng. Mu Qing's hands and legs are too injured from the burns, rendering him unable to properly walk so Xie Lian supports him on their way. They have a heart to heart conversation. Mu Qing seemingly wants to confess something, yet parts of the bridge suddenly collapse beneath them.

Xie Lian begins to carry Mu Qing and tries to make a run for it. Fire pillars begin to erupt and the resentful spirits residing in the lava desire to drag them down. They are unable to fend the spirits off so Mu Qing gets off of Xie Lian and creates a distance between them. He finally confesses his true feelings, that he thinks Xie Lian odd but deep down had always admired him and wanted to become his friend.

After admitting to this, Mu Qing jumps down to the spirits on purpose to fight them and buy Xie Lian time. Xie Lian doesn't leave him however, already trying to search for a way for Mu Qing to get back onto the bridge. Since Mu Qing is heavily injured and exhausted all his spiritual powers, jumping back on is no option. Mu Qing realizes the piece of bridge wood he's standing on is sinking and he's getting closer to being completely burned by the lava, choosing to end his own life quickly. As he's about to smash his skull in, someone suddenly slaps his hands away, catches him and leaps up with him.

It's revealed that Feng Xin has followed them down and found them because of the noise they made. Mu Qing is held up by Feng Xin in one hand while the latter's other hand holds onto Ruoye. The spirits still try to drag them down, so Feng Xin tells him to hold onto the silk to fight them off with his bow. Xie Lian finally pulls them both back onto the bridge but they don't rest for long. Feng Xin carries Mu Qing on his back as they continue down the Heaven Crossing Bridge. Feng Xin explains that he heard their conversation, deeply embarrassing Mu Qing who even starts to curse. The three have a playful and teasing talk despite the situation, their former tension resolving.

Xie Lian takes Mu Qing after a while so Feng Xin can continue to fight the spirits, but they switch once more when they find fragments of Hua Cheng's butterflies and blade marks. The two run after Xie Lian who went ahead in search of Hua Cheng and are stunned at the sight of Jun Wu fighting the latter.

### Battle Against the Heavenly Emperor

Mu Qing gets off of Feng Xin's back and they stay at a distance while observing the battle between Jun Wu, Hua Cheng and Xie Lian. When Jun Wu is bashing Xie Lian into a wall, they join in and try to stop him. Mu Qing manages to strike his saber into Jun Wu's shoulder, although his powerful white armor isn't penetrated. Jun Wu soon turns towards him and activates the Cursed Shackle on his wrist, resulting in Mu Qing's blood being drained. He's unable to move and desperately tries to fight for control with the shackle but to no avail.

Feng Xin tries to get to him so they can run, but he gets badly wounded by Jun Wu as well. Although both are heavily injured, they try to help Xie Lian by retrieving Fang Xin, yet Jun Wu notices before they can get to the sword. He destroys the part of the bridge they're standing on, causing Feng Xin and Mu Qing to fall towards the lava. Feng Xin manages to grab Mu Qing's boot while his own is held by Mei Nianqing who is still on the bridge.

While hanging face down at the end, Mu Qing notices that the sword is below them in the lava. He manages to grab it after being lowered even more and throws the sword to Xie Lian before he himself is thrown back on the bridge by Feng Xin. After Mu Qing lands he becomes the one to hold Feng Xin and Mei Nianqing as they suddenly dragged down by the lava creatures. Cuo Cuo manages to fight off those monsters and they let Feng Xin go, thus Mu Qing is able to pull them back onto the bridge.

Once Jun Wu is defeated, Mu Qing fly-kicks his Cursed Shackle that had fallen off on its own into the lava. Him and Feng Xin want to approach Hua Cheng and Xie Lian but they leave them be after seeing them kiss. They notice something is wrong yet only rush towards Xie Lian after Hua Cheng has dissipated into a thousand butterflies. Mu Qing is too injured to walk propely so instead he yells up at the butterflies for Hua Cheng to stop joking around and come back, but he's soon aware that nothing can be done.

## Aftermath

While the Heavenly Officials reside on Tacaing Mountain Mu Qing takes on the task of doing the accounting, although Feng Xin and Pei Ming think something isn't right with the results he presents to them. After they also comment on his sarcastic behavior, Mu Qing leaves the meeting. Feng Xin calls him over to repair Ruoye once Xie Lian aquired the silk needed and although Mu Qing acts annoyed, he quickly takes the fabric and searches for sewing materials.

After several days Mu Qing finished repairing Ruoye and shows up at Xie Lian's secluded cottage to bring it back. The latter praises his sewing skills and it's clear that Mu Qing is proud of his work even though he doesn't show it. When he prepares to leave, he asks if Xie Lian wants to come with them once the new Heavenly Capital is built but Xie Lian kindly rejects the offer.

Mu Qing continues to visit Xie Lian sometimes while he waited for Hua Cheng. During the fifth month he shows up together with Feng Xin and they offer to take a walk with him but they ran off after Xie Lian hosts a meal.

### Puqi Shrine Feast

Mu Qing shows up to the opening celebration of the rebuilt Puqi Shrine. He's with several other Heavenly Officials but Mu Qing is the only one of them remaining as the others quickly leave. Feng Xin arrives soon after as well, scaring off some gossipy Heavenly Officals by yelling at them. When Mu Qing tells him he should've just kept quiet, Feng Xin throws him a broom as a tease but it doesn't work on him anymore. Xie Lian hands another broom to Feng Xin and convinces them to sweep the floor together.

They start to banter with the brooms at one point while still sweeping, but when they notice everyone eating they grab a bowl themselves and sit down to eat, notably on better terms with each other.

Mu Qing and Feng Xin later see chicken ghost washing himself in the soup when they poke their heads into the kitchen, causing them to spit out their food. They also hear about Xie Lian having evil essence inside of him due to Hua Cheng which greatly shocks the two.

### Amnesia Incident

Xie Lian summons Mu Qing and Feng Xin to him after losing his memory, assuming they're still his subordinates. He's confused by their mature and luxurious appearances and questions them about it which confuses Mu Qing and Feng Xin in return. They become bewildered by Xie Lian's behavior, so Mu Qing asks what he remembers doing the last few days and where Hua Cheng is. After determining that Xie Lian does indeed have amnesia, he pulls Feng Xin aside to discuss what to do.

They plan on bringing him to Hua Cheng and thus the two ask him to accompany them. Xie Lian grows suspicious and takes many steps back, causing Mu Qing to use spiritual light to try and restrain him but he manages to run away. Mu Qing and Feng Xin chase after him together and Mu Qing thinks he's lost his memories from eating his horrible cooking. They soon stop the chase and tell Hua Cheng about all this first.

### Awakening of the Statues

After Xie Lian's statue had come to life and escaped the cave it eventually came to Mu Qing's palace. It had searched for him and Feng Xin because during the time that the statue represented, the two were his closest allies. It arrived in Mu Qing's palace with disheveled clothes and a lot of exposed skin, shocking Mu Qing deeply. The statue manages to snatch a sword from him before running into his garden but Mu Qing remains sitting on his altar, still disturbed by what he saw, until Xie Lian and Hua Cheng arrive too.

Mu Qing later tries to go outside into his garden as well but is immediately dragged back by Xie Lian. He struggles and becomes infuriated because Xie Lian won't let him see what the statues of Xie Lian and Hua Cheng are doing. He continues to be curious and demands to know what's going on, becoming incredibly distraught and unable to look at the mountain in his garden when he does eventually find out. Xie Lian assumes Mu Qing would level the area with a blow later.

### The Ghost King's Birthday

Xie Lian asks Mu Qing and Feng Xin for help with finding a birthday present for Hua Cheng. The three meet in an small temple, Mu Qing being annoyed that he would summon them for something like that. When Xie Lian rejects the idea of asking his worshippers for a gift, Mu Qing tells him to make one himself. With the other two staring at him at the idea, Mu Qing ends up teaching Xie Lian how to sew. The latter tries to sew a picture on a belt but Mu Qing and Feng Xin look miserable and confused upon observing the image. Mu Qing eventually tells him that he has no talent for this. Feng Xin claims it's not that bad and Mu Qing challenges him to wear it.

Mu Qing and Feng Xin are later called to Qiandeng Temple by Hua Cheng for assistance with Xie Lian's pains. He notices that the pain seems to grow stronger the closer Hua Cheng is to him so he tells Hua Cheng to go further away. Together with Feng Xin he holds Xie Lian back from going after Hua Cheng when he leaves. Since thoughts about him also seem to hurt Xie Lian, they try to distract him but it doesn't work. Eventually Xie Lian breaks free of them, slapping Mu Qing to the ground and running after Hua Cheng to the grave of the Fang Xin State Preceptor.

Him and Feng Xin catch up to them at the grave after a while. When the whole ordeal is over, Xie Lian bids farewell to them. Feng Xin is confused by what actually caused the pain and Mu Qing exposes that it was because of Xie Lian's deep infatuation with Hua Cheng.

## References

2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Novel, Book 1, Chapter 2: Scrap-Collecting Immortal's Third Ascension to Godhood
3. ↑ Novel, Book 2, Chapter 60: Lost Red Pearl; Inadverdent Eyes Red with Desire
4. ↑ Novel, Book 2, Chapter 61: Lost Red Pearl; Inadverdent Eyes Red with Desire II
5. ↑ Novel, Book 2, Chapter 63: Lost Red Pearl; Inadverdent Eyes Red with Desire IV
6. ↑ Novel, Book 2, Chapter 69: Fishing for Offerings; Boor Meets Crown Prince
7. ↑ Novel, Book 2, Chapter 71: God of Heaven Interferes in Mortal Matters
8. ↑ Novel, Book 2, Chapter 75: Closing the Capital Gates; Survival of Yong'an Barred
9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 Novel, Book 4, Chapter 181: Lantern Night; Penny for a Wandering Soul
10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 Novel, Book 4, Chapter 186: Thirty-Three Heavenly Officials Fight Over Auspicious Land II
11. ↑ Novel, Book 4, Chapter 187: Cold White Ghost; Warm Words Confounding the Crown Prince
12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 12.2 Novel, Book 3, Chapter 141: I Choose The Path I Walk II
13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 13.2 Novel, Book 3, Chapter 139: Upon Barren Hills; Rioting the Black Hearted Inn III
14. ↑ Novel, Book 4, Chapter 198: Man in Abyss Receives a Bamboo Hat in the Rain III
15. ↑ Novel, Book 3, Chapter 161: This Jade Refuses to be a Thrown-Away Brick III
16. ↑ Novel, Book 3, Chapter 162: This Jade Refuses to be a Thrown-Away Brick IV
17. ↑ Novel, Book 1, Chapter 33: In the Great Martial Hall; Crown Prince Meets Crown Prince II
18. ↑ Novel, Book 1, Chapter 44: Paradise to Ashes; The Second Coming of Fangxin
19. ↑ Novel, Book 1, Chapter 46: Enraged Nan Yang; Fist Fight with Xuan Zhen
20. ↑ Novel, Book 1, Chapter 48: Adroit Dice for the Safety of Only One
21. ↑ Novel, Book 1, Chapter 56: In the Cannibal Lair; Ghost King Faces Heavenly Officials II
22. ↑ Novel, Book 1, Chapter 56: In Search of the Past; Retracing Steps to Mount Taicang
23. ↑ Novel, Book 2, Chapter 90: The Mid-Autumn Festival; Battling Lanterns on Moon Watch Eve II
24. ↑ >Novel, Book 3, Chapter 99: Bizarre Game Plan; Doors Open to the Fetus Ghost Thief II
25. ↑ Novel, Book 3, Chapter 127: Mount Tonglu Reopens; All Ghosts Aroused
26. ↑ 26.0 26.1 Novel, Book 3, Chapter 175: Cave of Ten Thousand Gods; Faces of Ten Thousand Gods Revealed
27. ↑ Novel, Book 3, Chapter 176: Cave of Ten Thousand Gods; Faces of Ten Thousand Gods Revealed II
28. ↑ Novel, Book 3, Chapter 178: Cave of Ten Thousand Gods; Faces of Ten Thousand Gods Revealed IV
29. ↑ Novel, Book 5, Chapter 201: Dominate Heaven and Earth; Divine Being Breaks Through the Kiln III
30. ↑ Novel, Book 5, Chapter 202: Taking the Helm; Four Martial Gods Transform into a Sword
31. ↑ Novel, Book 5, Chapter 203: White Emperor Comments on the Mysterious Guoshi
32. ↑ 32.0 32.1 Novel, Book 5, Chapter 208: Ghost Enters the Mirror; Nowhere to Hide
33. ↑ Novel, Book 5, Chapter 209: Chaos in the Heavenly Capital; Nefarious Wave Shakes the Heavens
34. ↑ Novel, Book 5, Chapter 215: The Path Shan't Go Astray But the Mandates Are All the Same
35. ↑ 35.0 35.1 35.2 35.3 35.4 Novel, Book 5, Chapter 232: Adroit Dice; Snake Eyes Rolled Alarming the Heart IV
36. ↑ Novel, Book 5, Chapter 229: Adroit Dice; Snake Eyes Rolled Alarming the Heart
37. ↑ 37.0 37.1 Novel, Book 5, Chapter 230: Adroit Dice; Snake Eyes Rolled Alarming the Heart II
38. ↑ Novel, Book 5, Chapter 231: Adroit Dice; Snake Eyes Rolled Alarming the Heart III
39. ↑ 39.0 39.1 39.2 39.3 Novel, Book 5, Chapter 233: Cliffs Hundred Yards High; Thousand Bends over Lava Falls
40. ↑ 40.0 40.1 Novel, Book 5, Chapter 234: Cliffs Hundred Yards High; Thousand Bends over Lava Falls II
41. ↑ 41.0 41.1 41.2 41.3 41.4 Novel, Book 5, Chapter 235: The Heaven-Crossing Bridge; Three Idiots Return to Olden Times
42. ↑ Novel, Book 5, Chapter 236: Bloody Sought Flower; Vicious Battle Against White-No Face
43. ↑ Novel, Book 5, Chapter 239: Crack the White Armour; Fantastic Magic Shattering the Cursed Shackles
44. ↑ 44.0 44.1 44.2 Novel, Book 5, Chapter 240: Humming Smile as Red Robes Fade
45. ↑ 45.0 45.1 Novel, Book 5, Chapter 241: Humming Smile as Red Robes Fade II
46. ↑ Novel, Book 5, Chapter 242: Atop Mount Taicang; Thousands of Kinds of Dust Settle
47. ↑ 47.0 47.1 Novel, Book 5, Chapter 243: How My Lord Aches for the Flower; How I Ache for My Lord
48. ↑ 48.0 48.1 48.2 Novel, Book 5, Chapter 244: By the Heaven Official's Blessing No Paths are Bound
49. ↑ 49.0 49.1 Novel, Extras, Chapter 246: The Curious Incident of His Royal Highness, the Crown Prince's Memory Having Wandered Away I - Big Huahua Picks Up an Amnesiac Lian
50. ↑ 50.0 50.1 Novel, Extras, Chapter 251: Aiyah! Thousand God Cavern
51. ↑ 51.0 51.1 51.2 Novel, Extras, Chapter 252: The Ghost King's Birthday