Chapter 272

Jiang Qu Lian was stunned: "What did……you say?"

Cui Jue was looking at Jiang Qu Lian's eyes with no joy or anger. It was a kind of compassion that overlooked all things from Jiutian. He said slowly: "You blew up the heavenly prison, burned 16 prison guards to death, and made more than 100 evil demons and monsters escape from the prison. Most of them descended to the human realm and caused disasters. Your sins were very serious, and you should have been thrown into the Hell Path or Animal Path and should not even possess any consciousness and memories. However, the god Lan Jiang exchanged his thousands of years of cultivation and divine position for you to go to the Hungry Ghost Path, and he himself was demoted as a mortal and could not become an immortal forever."

Jiang Qu Lian remained stiff for a long time like a stone statue. Only the slightly bright pupils in his eyes still had a trace of fury. What Cui Jue said just now echoed repeatedly in his mind. It was obvious that it was easy to understand, yet he still needed to break up the words to understand them, because he couldn't believe what he heard.

"You hated him for being heartless and ruthless, not even getting a glance or a piece of clothing from him in your previous life, but you didn’t know how much he gave up for you. You suffered in the Heavenly Prison, so he transformed into a prison guard to protect you. You caused a great disaster, so he used his cultivation and divine position to protect you. As a result, he let you cultivate the Hungry Ghost Path and come back to harm countless people." Cui Jue's eyes became gradually sharper, and his tone also sharpened, "Jiang Qu Lian, are you worthy?"

Lan Chui Han's head hung unbearably low. An unspeakable sorrow flowed from his eyes. At first, he thought it was better to put him into the Hungry Ghost Path than the Hell Path or the Animal Path, and that was the best thing among the bad choices, but he never thought that the unbridled, flamboyant, and high-spirited red-haired youth becoming the cruel and evil ghost king now.

Although Ah Yun acted unreasonably at the beginning, he had a kind character. Even if he caused trouble, he didn't do it maliciously. However, the current Jiang Qu Lian had a heart that was already soaked in the poison of hatred and bloodthirstiness for centuries. He regarded the living creatures as nobodies and trampled them as he wished. He regarded the underworld as dogs and horses* of the gods and planned to overthrow everything. He’s mad, crazy, cruel, and heinous. He’s a true ghost and the king of ghost kings.

It was because he had seen Ah Yun's capricious but pure manner that Lan Chui Han was so distressed by Jiang Qu Lian in front of him. If he had known that his choice would have turned that Asura youth into a ghost king and would have brought such a calamity to both the human and ghost realms, he would be willing to smash his soul with his own hands and be done with it.

But now the big mistake had been made and nothing could be undone.

Jiang Qu Lian cleared up his mind, used his remaining strength, and pushed Lan Chui Han away. He laid prostrate on the ground and shook his head strenuously: "Impossible." That crimson gaze moved back and forth between Cui Jue and Lan Chui Han, "Did he ever look at me once? He would give up his cultivation and divine position for me? Hahaha, that's ridiculous!"

"If you don't believe me, open the Golden Trunk Jade Policy and you'll know at a glance." Cui Jue said in a deep voice, "You don't even have the courage to take a look. You're living in a self-blaming fantasy, afraid that the truth will make you realize that everything you've done is wrong, meaningless and harmful to others and to yourself!"

"Shut up!" Jiang Qu Lian glared viciously at Cui Jue, "You're nothing but a lackey of the Heavenly Palace. You haven't been an Asura or a hungry ghost. You were born as an outstanding person and became a ghost immortal after death. Everyone respects you. You will never understand what I've been through."

"I don't have to understand. That's your own life, but you don't even dare to see the full picture of your own life?"

Jiang Qu Lian's hands were clenched into fists. His gaze wavered several times, and finally collided with Lan Chui Han's. His distorted facial features were full of inner struggles. Other than hatred, there was panic in his eyes, as if he was inquiring and escaping.

Lan Chui Han said softly: "Ah Yun, return the Book of Life and Death and the Jade Policy to Official Lord Cui. It doesn't matter whether you see it or not, but you shouldn’t make any more mistakes."

Jiang Qu Lian was silent for a long time and asked in a weak mosquito voice, "Is it true?"

"......"

"Is what he said true?" Jiang Qu Lian stared straight into Lan Chui Han's eyes. Those eyes were firm with indescribable tenderness. The first time he saw the young Lan Chui Han in Chidi City, he not only recalled Lan Jiang's appearance, but also these beautiful eyes, just that the emotions they revealed were worlds apart. He barely hesitated before wanting to get close, be intimate, and to have him for himself. He thought Lan Chui Han could give him all the things he longed for but couldn't get from Lan Jiang. Lan Chui Han did give it to him, but it was too late. He had become a ghost and could not be redeemed.

Lan Chui Han pursed his lips and whispered, "I did see you and remembered your name." In this life, he was a talented and affectionate noble master. He could easily say flirty words. At this time, when facing Jiang Qu Lian's inquiry, he obviously should say more pleasant words with a glib tongue, but he couldn't say it. The return of Lan Jiang's memory didn't turn him into another person, just that after the fusion of the two memories, he was no longer just Lan Chui Han. When facing Jiang Qu Lian, he could only refrain and seriously say such words. This is nearly the sincerest response Lan Jiang could give.

Jiang Qu Lian's heart ached extremely, and his eyes gradually blurred: "Was that prison guard really you?"

"Mm."

"You really......really did it for me.....?" Jiang Qu Lian's voice gradually choked, "I don't believe it. You clearly said ‘It has nothing to do with me'. You were obviously indifferent to me!"

Lan Chui Han said gloomily: "If I give up my cultivation, the divine position, and become a mortal, I can regain my seven emotions and six desires as a mortal. I thought, if there’s one day, if our fate is not over and we can meet again in the afterlife, I can...respond to you."

Jiang Qu Lian gasped, and his tears fell uncontrollably: "Are you really this stupid? If you are willing to disguise yourself as a prison guard to help me and give up your divine position for me, isn't that already a 'response'. What I was trying to do in my previous life is just to be closer to you, even if you showed a little bit, a little bit of care for me, we would not be like this!"

Lan Chui Han slowly stretched out his hand, caressed Jiang Qu Lian’s cheek, and said with a soft voice: "Ah Yun, I'm sorry. It's just that the past Lan Jiang couldn't even apologize. In fact, he had many things he wanted to say to you, but he couldn't."

Jiang Qu Lian's tears could not stop flowing down, but then he let out a mournful laughter: "Ridiculous. Why do you want me to know this now? Why did you save me? Why not just let me go to hell and be an animal? I'd rather have my soul scattered than be a hungry ghost!"

"I want you to have a chance to start over. If you fall into the Hell Path or the Animal Path, there will be nothing left."

"A chance to start over? Hahahaha." Jiang Qu Lian cried and laughed, "Do you know what I've eaten? I ate everything. When I was born, the people in the village realized a hungry ghost was born and wanted to kill me in my infancy. My mother was not willing to part with me and took me away. We hid from place to place and depended on each other. But when I couldn't find food and couldn’t tolerate my hunger, I ate her. I ate my mother. I ate my companions, my loyal subordinates, and a pile of fierce ghosts with rotten bones and meat in the deep streams and dense forests. This is a hungry ghost! I can't start over. How can I start over?!"

Lan Chui Han closed his eyes in pain.

Jiang Qu Lian chuckled continuously. His tears were also flowing continuously. He slowly rose from the ground, and his body was swaying, trying to maintain the dignity of the red-clothed ghost king: "Tell me, what did you see in the Chamber of Nightmares?"

 

 ----

PS: OOoOoOohhhh I’m interested what he saw in the CoN A_A

 

dogs and horses* [犬马]---we use this to describe someone who’s a loyal servant to somebody (usually in a derogatory way)

 

Edited on 31 July 21 (Emzie)

 

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