I wonder if there ever would’ve been a point where HC raised his hands in defeat and just announced he was looking for Xie Lian. Maybe he wouldn’t want to use his name specifically but Announce there was someone he was looking for.
They’re be flyers with his likeness posted all over the city. And a kings reward for anyone who a) found him without causing him harm or b) had any information that led to his whereabouts
Obviously, he would have to stress heavily that he wished no harm to the man he was looking for. And that if someone did harm him, then their entire gene pool would be wiped out.
There would also be quite a few people in the heavenly realm that would recognize XL if they looked into the matter.
Imaging Mu Qing and Feng Xin getting word of it and going to go city demanding what interest Hc has in XL.
He could lie or tell vague, truth as he usually does.
I imagine HC would say something along the lines of “a debt is owed, not that you trash even deserve an explanation.” before throwing them out or the city.
It would make sense as HC is the sole proprietor of ghost city’s only gambling den. It could easily be misconstrued as XL owing him a debt. But truthfully it’s HC that wants to give to XL everything good he thinks he’s owed.
Thus chaos ensues. The ghost realm is in a frenzy too track down this random man to earn a Calamity’s favor. The heavenly realm gets involved. Feng Xin and Mu Qing want to find XL before HC to protect him from being hunted by the calamity. And Jun Wu wants to know where his boy is but he's mulling over whether he lets XL get tortured by HC or collects him himself to torture him his own way. Oh decisions.
HC doesn't mind that Heavens looking into the matter. Whether a ghost or God finds XL, It works in HCs favor. Most ghosts want to please him anyway. And if the heavens find XL first, one of his spies in heaven will let him know.
Thus begins and epic manhunt cross three realms.
And Xie Lian is none the wiser
