⚠️Sensitive content in the chapter. Content includes bullying and homophobic jokes and harassment. Reader discretion is advised.⚠️
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Hua Ying stayed that entire night at the Jingshi. He dozed off a couple times on the day bed Wangji had lent him, but otherwise, he just laid there looking out the window while he was awake. He was going back to Puqi Shrine and Wangji was going with. Hua Ying's parents were also going to be there. In the morning, Hua Ying stayed out while Wangji went out for breakfast and to say goodbye to his brother and uncle.

Hua Ying was busy making the traveling array at the Jingshi in the meantime. When Wangji returned, he was slightly confused, "what is this?"

"Distance shortening array," Hua Ying answered, "you have everything?"

"Yes," Wangji replied. Without another word, Wangji watched as Hua Ying rolled a pair of dice and muttered something under his breath. He didn't know exactly what he said. Wangji's eyes widened when Hua Ying opened the door only to see they were at Puqi Village, "huh?"

"The distance shortening array is a hand-drawn array that can teleport multiple people to a place. The strength of the spell depends on the power of the caster and drawing material. For example, a god's blood is much stronger than a mortal's. The array consists of a circle and different characters. Once the array is used, it is no longer effective. It can be overwritten by stronger arrays nearby and it's very draining in spiritual power. As I am a ghost, it's a bit different for me," Hua Ying explained.

"Oh," Wangji replied with a nod.

"Come on," Hua Ying said and grabbed him by the arm before dragging him through the village to Puqi Shrine.

Wangji has been to Puqi Shrine before but this time was a bit different. He was to spend time with Hua Ying and his parents. He wanted to make it work out with Hua Ying this time. This was basically his third chance and he knew that Hua Ying would not give him any more if he failed him one more time.

As they walked, Wangji saw some of the villagers keep their distance from them. He noticed it was more like keeping away from Hua Ying. Wangji was a bit confused as to why that was. He then saw a couple people around sixteen and he looked like he was just as arrogant and stuck up as a Jin disciple. There were two of them, both men. They were dressed in dark green robes and their hair was up in a rough ponytail.

"The ghost boy is back," one young man said. Hua Ying glanced at the two before ignoring them and continued to walk...that was until the two young men ran in front of him and Wangji to cut them off, "you should be greeting me back."

"Why would I?" Hua Ying asked, "who are you to me?"

"I am the village chief's son, and you should be careful or my father will be knocking at your doors again," the young man said, "though, I hope he stays away even from your parents. If you have gay parents, does that make you a faggot as well?"

Hua Ying's eyes started to turn red, "I'd shut up before you lose your head," he threatened.

"You do anything to me, you are in for a world of hurt," the young man said.

Wangji couldn't take this anymore and cleared his throat, "even as a son to a village chief, you should be ashamed of yourself. You should be kind to everyone as the people of the village could rely on you one day," he said.

"And who are you, a faggot too?" The young man asked as his friend laughed along.

Hua Ying's anger was close to snapping. He was okay with being made fun of but when it came to Wangji, it was crossing the line, "do you know who this is that you just insulted?" Hua Ying asked, his voice cold and harsh.

The young man felt a chill run past him, "should I?"

"This is Hanguang Jun from the Gusu Lan Sect you moron!" Hua Ying said.

"The Hanguang Jun?!" The young man asked and got a better look at him, "my apologies Hanguang Jun."

"I am not the one who needs an apology," Wangji said, "you insulted my partner."

"You are friends with this...man slut?"

Lan Wangji growled and gave him a cold glare, "do not insult him in front of me again or you will know what it's like to have Bichen take a piece from you...and it's going to be that tongue of yours."

The young man shivered at the cold words that came from Wangji. Soon the village chief and Hua Ying's parents appeared, "what's going on here?" The chief asked.

"These two are using hurtful homophobic words towards my partner as well as his parents," Wangji explained. Hua Ying remained silent as he was not sure how much longer he can hold his anger back.

"Peng Ailun, you know better!" The chief said, "you know how much Hua Ying's parents have contributed to the village? If not for them, half the village would have been lost long ago. There was a plague that took over the village ten years ago and these people have contributed to the cause immensely. How dare you be so ignorant and arrogant?!"

"I am sorry, like I would know!" Ailun said.

"You are to go do your chores and I will make sure that your work is doubled for the next month!" The chief said and looked at Hua Ying, "I am sorry."

"It's fine," Hua Ying said quietly as he was really trying to simmer down.

Hua Cheng immediately went over to his side, "hey, let's get you home," he said.

"A'Die, I feel like I am about to explode," Hua Ying whispered.

"Let me take you somewhere," Hua Cheng said and teleported Hua Ying  to a pit in the Ghost Realm, "this is a place that was made to help lash out your anger without hurting anyone. It's safe. I will not be hurt, I will be here so I can help you if you need it. Just let your emotions out."

Just like that, Hua Ying let himself go. Black tendrils of resentment started flowing out of his pours. It was like he had enough resentment in his system that could fill the entirety of Cloud Recesses alone, and Cloud Recesses was a large area. It felt like the Yin Hu Fu all over again but much stronger. There was no piece of metal for it to be stored in, just Hua Ying's body. He really was the master of demonic energy.