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You Were Born a Nobleman, Chapter Eighty: Accompanying You to Hell (Extra Update Request)
"Peacock King? Wait, is that the Ancient Demon God from the legend about the parchment? Are you all okay? I'll go get a doctor right now." Jumping exclaimed, wide-eyed and jumping around, finally shouting loudly.
Little Fish pressed her shoulder to make her sit down, pouring tea and offering snacks. After some coaxing, she finally calmed Jumping's temper. With her mouth full of delicious treats, Jumping spoke indistinctly, "I was just startled; what happened that day was too bizarre and scared you all."
Little Fish handed her a cup of hot tea and said, "No talking while eating or drinking. Swallow what’s in your mouth before speaking; it’s impolite."
With a slap on Little Fish's thigh, Jumping retorted, "You're such a fuss, go away."
Little Fish didn’t bother to argue with her and turned to Kong Xuan seriously, saying, "Since you are the Ancient Demon God, what do you want here at our Shrine? Are the recent events related to you?"
At this moment, Kong Xuan looked at Little Fish with newfound respect. This child usually seemed dull and listless but was quite sharp at critical moments, knowing how to focus on the important points. It seemed she had potential. Kong Xuan raised an eyebrow and smiled lightly, causing Little Fish's heart to flutter; he truly was a stunning figure. Even knowing he was a man, she found herself completely defenseless against his beauty!
"Little Fish, this Peacock Mountain is mine by right. I can come and go as I please. As for your questions, they probably have something to do with me!"
"What kind of answer is that? It’s completely evasive. High Priestess, we cannot trust him."
Tang Zisu remained silent but immediately sat close to Kong Xuan obediently. Though she didn’t speak, her actions clearly indicated to Little Fish that she had already allied with him; any attempts to sow discord would be nipped in the bud.
Kong Xuan was pleased with Tang Zisu's performance and reached under the table to hold her hand, gently tapping her palm.
Tang Zisu maintained a calm expression while feeling a whirlwind of emotions inside; oh god—please spare me from this madness! Why did so many people have to get involved?
Seeing that Tang Zisu was not going to help her out, Little Fish rested her head on the table and tilted it to look at Softy with watery eyes. Softy waved his hands dismissively, "Don’t look at me; I don’t understand anything."
At this point, Little Fish had completely turned into a fish out of water.
"Little Fish, if I had malicious intent, I could have killed you and Jumping easily; killing you would be no different than squashing two ants. So why are you still alive?"
Kong Xuan's arrogant tone provoked Jumping into anger; she jumped up mockingly, "What are you bragging about? How capable do you think you are? One Black Crow can be dealt with by the three of you demons; I’d have to chop off one of his arms first."
Tang Zisu feared Kong Xuan might get angry and quickly added, "Yes, yes! Jumping is amazing—so amazing that I need to marry that Charcoal guy in exchange for your help! Who exactly is protecting whom here?"
"Hey, Tang Zisu, is there really someone who mediates like this? It seems that the witch who has been taken advantage of is particularly eager to throw herself out."
"Alright, this is about to turn into a fight. If you all want to argue, why not wait until I finish my business and then argue slowly? What I have to say is important." Softy hurriedly interjected.
Jumping slammed the table: "Mi Ruanruan, you've turned against us too. What do you mean by important? This concerns the safety of Peacock Valley. I won't discuss it with you anymore; Mr. Dongfang is coming back in a couple of days, and I'm going to find him."
"Zhu Tiao Tiao, you're not allowed to go." Kong Xuan and Little Fish simultaneously stopped Jumping, while Lang Ye stood in front of her like a shadow.
"What are you trying to do?" Jumping was annoyed and drew out her weapon, Years of Killing.
Lang Ye moved swiftly, lightly grabbing the weapon with his fingers. In an instant, Years of Killing was in his hands. He drew the blade and examined it, saying, "Good knife, too bad you can only use it to kill pigs."
"You all? Little Fish, are you coming or not?"
Kong Xuan spoke slowly: "Jumping, this mountain is called Peacock Mountain, this village is called Peacock Valley, and I am known as Peacock King. This mountain and valley belong to me. It doesn't matter if all the gods and demons in the Three Realms are dead; however, Tang Zisu, Lang Ye, Softy, you, Little Fish, and everyone in Peacock Valley, every pig, cow, sheep, every blade of grass and tree, every grain of sand and stone will not be touched by anyone. Dongfang Muze is neither immortal nor demon but can wield the Zhu Xian Sword. Only someone as foolish as you would treat him like family."
Kong Xuan had returned to his original tone; his voice was not loud but left no room for argument. His face was still captivating, yet with raised brows and lowered gaze, he exuded an imposing aura that showed no trace of femininity.
Jumping felt her legs weaken; she fought against the urge to kneel and finally sat back down heavily in her chair.
Tang Zisu looked at Kong Xuan's demeanor and felt a chill in her heart. She kicked Kong Xuan under the table and whispered, "Hey, stop showing off; you're scaring people!"
Kong Xuan maintained his icy expression but placed his hand on Tang Zisu's thigh, rhythmically moving upward. He whispered, "Did I scare you? Then call out; I like hearing you call out—louder is better."
Damn it, shameless Old Demon, where did you learn this thick-skinned behavior? Is it that those who become kings are inherently equipped with shamelessness?
Their little actions did not escape the eyes of the wolf. Lang Ye pretended to casually glance over and then coughed several times. Tang Zisu, engaged in a struggle against Kong Xuan's wicked grasp, was startled by Lang Ye's cough; her face turned bright red while Lang Ye smirked smugly.
Interrupted by their antics, Kong Xuan wished he could punch Lang Ye. He muttered to him: "If your throat's not well, let your crybaby make you some pear soup; stop making noise."
Lang Ye laughed mischievously: "Birdie, now I know how you were born!" He clearly saw Kong Xuan frown. He continued, "You must have come out of the egg with your butt first; how shameless!"
A twitch appeared at Kong Xuan's brow as he ignored Lang Ye. Instead, he addressed Softy: "Softy, do you have any important business? Since everyone is here, let's hear it."
Inside, Lang Ye thought it wasn't good; this proud peacock was up to something again.
Softy recounted the situation with Yuan Maiden. As soon as she expressed her thoughts, Lang Ye immediately became angry: "I disagree. Softy, don't be fooled by that old ghost. She is trying to take over your body."
However, Kong Xuan said, "It's fine. Softy is doing a good deed by understanding Vengeful Spirit's inner turmoil. I support her."
Now it was Lang Ye who wanted to slap Kong Xuan. This was clearly personal revenge; the crybaby was foolishly trying to jump into a pit, and yet you were pushing her from behind. Is this how brothers behave?
That's why they are beastly brothers!
"I oppose this, Softy. You can't do this. We need to find a way to drive her out of your body, not waste time helping her find a husband," Lang Ye insisted.
Yuan Maiden heard everything and said softly, "Little sister, it's alright. You won't be able to find him anyway."
"No way! I promised to help you, and I won't go back on my word. They can’t stop me; I'll do it myself," Softy declared firmly.
Jumping, captivated by Yuan Maiden's story, quickly forgot the earlier unpleasantness. She grabbed the knife that Lang Ye had returned, and due to her excitement, her chest rose and fell: "We must help, Yuan Maiden. When the time comes, I will definitely help you take revenge on that heartless man."
Little Fish pulled her back for the nth time: "Don't make things worse. It's been so long; that person has probably passed away. How would you even go? Are you planning to go to the Underworld?"
Kong Xuan gently stroked Tang Zisu's knee: "It's not impossible. The body can't go, but the soul can descend. I have acquaintances in the Underworld!"
Tang Zisu's knee was practically reacting with a reflex; oh my, this is another Divine Horse situation. It seems those acquaintances were passed down from here. Sigh, it really is deeply rooted and hard to change.
Lang Ye clapped his hands: "Right! How could we forget about her? The Ten Yama Kings, Wheel King, and Huaisu are in charge of scholars; wouldn't that be perfect?"
Softy quickly said, "Okay, then I'll go with Yuan Maiden to find her in the Underworld Fertile Stone."
"What good does that do? That's the ghostly Underworld! How can a young girl like you go down there? Besides, that woman Huaisu is strange and specializes in unfaithful women; wouldn't she just take over your body?" Lang Ye interrupted Softy. He couldn't understand why this girl was so enthusiastic and stubborn.
"What should we do then? Wouldn't she never find that heartless man?"
"What should we do? I'll accompany you," Lang Ye said fiercely, but everyone present could feel his kindness.
Not just kindness; he was willing to accompany her to hell. Who in this world would willingly descend into eighteen layers of hell for someone else?
Softy quickly replied, "No! I won't let you take that risk."
"You can risk yourself for someone unrelated, Mi Ruanruan, so why can't I take a risk for you?"
"That's different. My soul is tied to hers right now. If I don't help her eliminate her resentment, we won't be able to separate. I'm actually doing it for myself; it's not as noble as you think."
"How do you know that?"
"I just feel it, my intuition. And my intuition is always very accurate."
Lang Ye was quite impressed with this little Softy; she could sense such things. However, what she said seemed to have some truth to it. Just as she was about to ask something, she suddenly heard Kong Xuan say, "Softy, how are you going to the Underworld?"
"I have a token for the Underworld."
"What?"
Softy hurriedly took out a small Buddha statue hanging around her neck, wrapped in red cloth because she guessed Yuan Maiden would be scared. When Kong Xuan opened it, as expected, the statue depicted Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva, who compassionately gazes down on the world and helps those who fall into hell. The material of this statue was special; it was carved from Buddhist relics.
Kong Xuan handed it back to Softy, saying, "Indeed, this is a supreme treasure. With this thing, Yama's Ten Halls will be like your backyard."
Tang Zisu suddenly felt a twinge of jealousy. She clutched the tablecloth with shining eyes and thought to herself that with such a treasure in hand, one could travel across the five continents—she wanted one too!
Lang Ye still found it hard to believe. "Is it really that impressive? Does Huaisu treat her like a guest just for this? You wouldn't even need to play your second brother's card then?"
Kong Xuan gave him a disdainful glance and said lightly, "You can try it out. Let's see if Ksitigarbha works better on Huaisu or if Peng Yue does."
"I know; Ksitigarbha works well for you, while your Golden-Winged Roc works for her. Hahaha." Lang Ye spoke too quickly and almost bit his own tongue afterward. Damn it, wasn't he just bringing up something unnecessary?
Kong Xuan seemed unfazed. "Then stop wasting time. You accompany them down there and remember to speak nicely to Huaisu. Don't provoke her and avoid casually mentioning Peng Yue."
"Got it. What nonsense! By the way, how are we supposed to get down? I don't have any magical power."
"Fool," Kong Xuan turned around and gently ruffled Tang Zisu's hair. "High Priestess, this depends on you."
Tang Zisu pointed at her own nose and said, "Me? I can't do anything!"
"Be good; everyone go to the main hall, and I'll teach you."
Everyone followed Kong Xuan to the main hall, where Kong Xuan stood with his hands behind his back in front of the Ksitigarbha statue, gazing at it for a long time. "Ksitigarbha, I hope you are well. I won't settle old scores with you today; I just need to borrow your space. They are all people you should protect, so make sure to look after them. If anything happens, I will shatter your golden body."
Tang Zisu watched the interaction between Kong Xuan and the Ksitigarbha statue, her mind recalling a certain legend. She wondered if it was true—could such a majestic bodhisattva really transform into a woman? Perhaps she should ask Kong Xuan about it when she had the chance.
Kong Xuan turned around and signaled for them to sit according to the positions of Qian, Kun, Zhen, and Xun. He then handed a spell to Tang Zisu for her to recite.
Tang Zisu asked in confusion, "Can't you recite it? I can't do it."
"Be good; I can't activate the spell without my powers, but you are a priestess. You have spiritual energy within you; you can do this."
"Alright, then recite slowly so I can learn."
After Tang Zisu stumbled through the incantation, three beams of white light shot up into the air and vanished in an instant.
"Wow, this is amazing! I've become a priestess!" Tang Zisu exclaimed in surprise.
Kong Xuan placed a finger on his lips to signal silence and whispered, "Keep reciting the Ten Wheel Sutra without interruption; that way, they will be safe in the Underworld."
Tang Zisu nodded and began to recite quietly.
Kong Xuan then told Jumping and Little Fish, "You must protect Softy and Lang Ye's physical forms. This is a Buddhist hall, so there won't be any evil spirits, but still be cautious."
Jumping asked, "What will you do?"
"I will protect you!"
As Jumping and Lang Ye's souls left their bodies, they felt incredibly light and powerful enough to walk on clouds and ride the winds. Yuan Maiden was now separate from Jumping, yet their hands remained tightly clasped together, unable to part. Lang Ye looked at Softy soaring through the vast Cloud Sea and asked, "How does it feel to fly?"
"It feels great! It's just that my body feels too light; I'm not used to it and I'm afraid of being blown away."
"Hold my hand and you won't be blown away."
Lang Ye's hand was large and warm; Softy's small hand felt secure enveloped in his grip, as if that hand could control everything!
Yuan Maiden glanced at their intertwined hands and smiled bitterly. Why did others' love always seem as sweet as nectar while her own felt like a cup of poison?
Hell is not as dark and terrifying as one might think!
In the Underworld Fertile Stone, although deep within the Underworld sunlight is rarely seen, flowers bloom eternally without fading. The flowers on both sides are red like fire and white like snow, representing the cycle of reincarnation with the Manjushahua and Mandala Flower.
When Softy found herself in this sea of flowers, she was utterly shocked. She had never seen flowers that could express red and white so exquisitely; those flowers dancing in the wind were not merely flowers but souls, the essence of the blooms.
By the banks of the River of Forgetfulness stood six bridges: the Bridge of Helplessness made of gold, silver, jade, and wooden planks. Lang Ye asked Softy, "Which one shall we take?"
"The stone one; it looks sturdy."
Lang Ye smiled; this was Softy, the most practical girl.
They walked steadily along, and after crossing the bridge, they found themselves in a bustling area filled with shops and throngs of people, even more prosperous than Peacock Town.
Yuan Maiden was no longer as anxious as at the beginning; she looked around and even had the mood to flirt with the men who glanced their way.
"Be careful; Wheel King hates women who act flirtatiously," Lang Ye warned her quietly.
Female Intestine quickly reined in her flirtation. When she became serious, she appeared dignified and graceful, clearly a young lady from a wealthy family.
Lang Ye led two beautiful women through the crowd; being newcomers, they attracted attention, especially from men who were envious under the high-pressure rule of monogamy.
Softy was not used to being stared at; she hid behind Lang Ye and tugged at his sleeve softly, saying, "Lang Ye, these people are strange. Why do they keep staring at us?"
Lang Ye felt uncomfortable too. How dare these people look at his woman? Did they want to die again? However, he couldn't share such violent thoughts with Softy. He replied softly, "It's nothing; they're curious because we are visitors from the Underworld."
Lang Ye was familiar with the area and soon found Yama's Ten Halls.
The Yama Hall was indeed grand and filled with a chilling aura. Softy shivered as she looked at the dark entrance, appearing particularly delicate.
"Softy, you have Ksitigarbha's token; you can pass without hindrance. Come on, let's go in," Lang Ye said as he took her hand confidently and walked inside.
The little ghosts at the entrance naturally came forward to block them upon seeing strangers. However, upon recognizing Lang Ye, they all dropped their weapons and fled. Lang Ye grabbed one: "Hey! Why didn't you greet me when you saw me? Why are you running away?"
The Imp trembled in fear: "Wolf King, greetings! I will go call our king for you."
"Get lost, why are you still so timid? The soldiers under your command are useless."
"Who are you calling useless? Do you think bringing two women with you proves your worth? Lang Ye, with just two coins and three inches, how can you be capable? I have plenty of Dog Treasure Deer Whips here; do you want me to send you some?"
A woman descended from the high platform, her hair styled elegantly and her skin as fair as snow, dressed in splendid attire. She was none other than the ruler of Yama's Ten Halls, the Turning King, Huaisu.
Lang Ye grinned widely, showing a mouthful of white teeth. "What do you need those things for, being a woman? You don't have a lot of men under your care, do you?"
"Impudent." Huaisu waved her hand, and a black long whip coiled like a serpent towards Lang Ye's neck.
Lang Ye caught it with one hand. "Sister Huaisu, it's been three hundred years since we last met, and you're still so hot-tempered!"
"Hmph, stop flattering me. Why are you the only one here? Where's that peacock?"
Lang Ye squinted and looked Huaisu up and down. "Are you looking for the peacock or for Dapeng?"
"Lang Ye, you're asking for trouble." Huaisu was serious this time; the whip in her hand came down like a storm, leaving Lang Ye dodging left and right in utter disarray.
"Sister Huaisu, I was just joking! Why are you still so angry? Alright, I admit I was wrong."
While Lang Ye and Huaisu were engaged in their lively banter, Softy pouted. This Lang Ye was simply asking for punishment; he talked too much and turned weak at the sight of beautiful women.
Yuan Maiden nudged her. "What's wrong? Are you jealous? The Ten Kings of Hell is truly beautiful."
"Shut your mouth." Softy ignored her.
Finally tiring out from the fight, Huaisu noticed several rips in Lang Ye's clothing. She stopped and said, "Now tell me, who do you want to harm this time? Three hundred years ago that bastard Kong Xuan made a mess of my place; I've been keeping track of that debt."
"Sister Huaisu, I really need your help with something important. As for your old scores with Kong Xuan, you should take that up with Peng Yue; he's the one to blame."
"Oh? Look at what you're saying. If I'm not helping, then I won't help at all today. Goodbye." Huaisu flicked her dark purple robe sleeve and turned to leave.
Lang Ye felt confident and reached out. "Softy, give it to me."
Softy hurriedly took out a Buddha statue from her belongings. Lang Ye held it up in front of Huaisu. "You wouldn't recognize this, would you?"
“Ksitigarbha's seal? How do you have it?”
“There's no need to look; such a worthless thing doesn't need a fake.” Sensing the killing intent in Huaisu's eyes, Lang Ye quickly waved his hands. “Alright, Ksitigarbha is good, Ksitigarbha is wonderful, Ksitigarbha is amazing.”
Huaisu gave him a disapproving chuckle, and her stern face instantly came to life.
“Huaisu sister, you should smile more. If Peng Yue sees that smile of yours, I’m sure…”
Huaisu glanced behind him and coldly interrupted, “Lang Ye, if you dare say another word, no matter whose token you have, I will immediately take that shameless Vengeful Spirit behind you.”
“Alright, I’m scared of you. But we can’t just stand here; at least let’s have a cup of tea.”
“Come in.”
Everyone sat down, and a little ghost served tea. Lang Ye picked up a small white jade cup and handed it to Softy. “Try the Carmine Grass Tea from Penglai Mountain. You won’t find this in the mortal realm.”
Softy held the cup but didn’t dare drink the bright red tea. She put it down and stood up to bow. “Ten Kings of Hell, please help her; she’s just a poor woman.”
Huaisu said, “Since you are one of Ksitigarbha's people, I will naturally take care of this. However, you must be careful not to get too close to those messy monsters. I already know your intentions, Yuan Maiden. I have checked all the records in the Underworld, and there is no scholar named Liu Hanwen.”
“No? How could that be? Could he have been reincarnated or…?”
“I said there isn’t one; there isn’t. I’ve managed the Tenth Hall for thousands of years; I would know if even a fly passed by. If there were truly a scholar who abandoned his wife, how could I not know?”
Lang Ye hurriedly said, “Huaisu sister, don’t be angry. Could he be somewhere else, like with Chujang Wang or Taishan King?”
“Of course not. Everyone who comes must have their crimes identified by me before being sent anywhere. Since he cannot be found even in the Underworld, there is only one possibility.”
“What possibility?” both Softy and Yuan Maiden asked simultaneously.
“That person is like you; he has long since died but has transformed into a Vengeful Spirit, lingering in a place where the soul collectors cannot find him. Or perhaps his soul is trapped by some spell formation, preventing him from escaping.”
“Is that so? Then I suppose I will never see him again.” Yuan Maiden sighed deeply, her expression even sorrowful, though it was unclear whether it was out of hate or love.
The loves and hates of this world are nothing but this: hate arises from love, love relies on hate; entangled in love and hate ultimately harms both body and heart, hurting others while harming oneself.
Several people fell silent, and sadness easily resonated among them. Even the aloof Huaisu Wang appeared sorrowful as he recalled a past unrequited love.
Softy suddenly said, "The cave, the one with the Soul Lock Array, Lang Ye. There are many ghosts trapped inside, unable to reincarnate."
Huaisu quickly asked, "Where is it? Who is so malicious as to trap souls and prevent them from moving on?"
"In Peacock Mountain, Yuan Maiden. Perhaps that person is truly trapped."
Yuan Maiden's eyes were vacant. "It's useless; it won't happen."
"You can't give up. Let's go take a look."
Lang Ye naturally remembered that cave and the terrifying Soul Lock Array. The anguished cries of the ghosts made his scalp tingle at the thought. However, since Softy wanted to go, he would accompany her.
"Take me to see it. Regardless of what these people did in life, they deserve a resting place after death. Whether human or demon, no one has the right to use another's soul for evil."
Upon hearing that Huaisu would also go, Lang Ye felt relieved. With the King of Yama Hall accompanying them, he no longer had to worry about his emotional companion being affected by the ghosts.
The group set off immediately and soon arrived at the cave. Softy clearly remembered that when they descended last time, the cave had collapsed, and the entrance was buried. Now it appeared exactly as it had when they first visited.
"Wait." Huaisu raised his arm to stop them, circling around the entrance twice before floating up to look down from above, his expression serious.
"Lang Ye, you said someone set up a Soul Lock Array here earlier?"
"Yes, a friend of mine who understands Feng Shui mentioned it. At that time, another friend shot an arrow dipped in her blood at the critical point to break it."
Huaisu furrowed his brow in thought for a moment before saying, "The person who set up this array returned after you left. He has collected quite a number of Evil Spirits; his goal is to use this cave and these lingering souls to spread negative energy throughout the mountain, turning it into a barren Graveyard."
The three listened in silence as a cold wind swept through, sending chills down their spines. Lang Ye couldn't help but ask, "He wants to turn all the mountain dwellers into dead people? This place is rich in spiritual energy; it's not something that can be destroyed so easily."
"You still ask me? You should ask yourself and Kong Xuan how many lives were lost in the war three hundred years ago. I still remember the constant wails echoing in the Underworld—those who deserved to die and those who didn't; old and young, men and women. At that time, I thought these poor souls should become Vengeful Spirits and haunt you war criminals every day."
Lang Ye's face was filled with sorrow; his eyes were desolate. "Huaisu, I do not deny my sins. One day when I fall into hell, I will naturally face whatever punishment awaits me. But at that time we could not avoid battle; war means bloodshed and death. We also had loved ones to protect and dignity to uphold. I have no regrets!"
No one expected that searching for one person's soul would lead to such revelations. What shocked Lang Ye even more was thinking of the missing Candle Dragon, the barrier deep in the mountains, Cold Crow, and all the recent events. He finally understood Kong Xuan's concerns: the events from three hundred years ago had not ended due to their slumbering seals; an evil force was brewing a greater conspiracy.
Thinking of this, Lang Ye naturally protected Softy behind him and asked Huaisu, "Stop beating around the bush. Tell me, what should I do?"
Huaisu replied, "I don't understand feng shui and don't dare to recklessly disrupt this formation, but I will seal off the evil energy here to prevent it from spreading."
"Are you really clueless or just unwilling to get involved, Huaisu? Aren't these dead people your responsibility?"
"Lang Ye, I have my duties. I manage the ghosts of the Underworld, but I can't interfere with the living in your world."
"To put it bluntly, you're just afraid of losing your position. Let me tell you, Huaisu, if you don't do something about the Ten Yama Kings, who knows, Peng Yue might have already set his sights on you. What man doesn't like a gentle and understanding woman? Yet here you are, always wearing a deadpan face that scares them away."
Huaisu turned around angrily to leave, but Softy quickly grabbed her arm. "Ten Kings of Hell, please don't stoop to his level; he's just being rude."
"Who's being rude? I'm just stating facts."
Softy pinched Lang Ye hard. "Shut up! If you don't speak, no one will think you're mute."
As it turned out, even a tough guy like Lang Ye could be easily intimidated by Softy.
Huaisu hadn't really intended to leave. She said to Softy, "Little girl, you have a natural yin-yang eye and are an extremely yin body. Now that I've covered your life force's aura, would you dare to go into the cave and investigate while helping her find someone?"
"No way! I can't let Softy take risks." Lang Ye quickly objected.
"I'll go. For Yuan Maiden and for the villagers of Peacock Mountain, I'll go."
"I forbid it! Why can you do this for so many people but not think of me?" Lang Ye's fur bristled.
"I'm doing this for you! Do you think I don't understand what you're saying to the Ten Kings of Hell?"
Softy's retort completely caught Lang Ye off guard. He held his neck for a long time before finally saying, "I'll go too."
Huaisu said, "You want to go? Do you still have any powers? If you enter there, you'll be torn apart by evil spirits; they have a vendetta against you."
"I don't care! You figure out a way; you must have one."
Honestly, if Black Wolf King were to claim he was second in being shameless in the world, no one would dare say they were first.
Huaisu felt a mix of emotions as she bit her middle finger, letting the blood drip onto Lang Ye's forehead. With that blood, she drew a protective symbol. "Alright, this will conceal your aura and temporarily lend you my power. Remember, you must retreat completely within an hour."
Lang Ye nodded, clenching his fists, feeling a surge of strength throughout his body.
Huaisu pulled a parasol-shaped hairpin from her hair and inserted it into Softy's hair. "This is my Magic King's Parasol. I'll teach you the incantation; it will protect you. Remember, when you go in to find someone, do not linger in battle."
Seeing Softy nod, Huaisu asked, "Are you all ready?"
"Wait," Softy called out, turning to Lang Ye. "If we make it out, will you give me answers to the questions I have?"
Lang Ye nodded solemnly. "Yes, I will tell you everything then."
"Good, we are ready."
With a wave of her sleeve, Huaisu sent them into the cave.
Inside, it was pitch black; nothing seemed different, but they all knew danger lurked in the shadows. Beneath their feet lay countless hands filled with resentment, eager to drag them into an endless abyss.
Softy suddenly laughed. "I never expected hell to resemble the human world so closely, while the human world is even more terrifying than hell."
Lang Ye tightened his grip on her hand in the darkness. "It's about the heart; for those with kind hearts, anywhere can be paradise. Those with wicked hearts will always remain in darkness."
Though Softy's view of Lang Ye's face was obscured by darkness, she felt reassured; as long as she was with him, she believed his back could support the heavens.
After entering the cave, Yuan Maiden began to feel increasingly restless. As a Vengeful Spirit, memories from her past flooded over her like a tide. She wanted to scream and destroy everything around her. The sight of this couple beside her only intensified her agitation; she did not want to see love because it did not exist for her—if she could not have it, no one else should either.
Sharp claws extended silently from the darkness and pierced Softy's throat.
"Softy, be careful!" Lang Ye sensed the murderous intent and spun around while holding Softy close. The other hand brushed against Yuan Maiden's body as she hung suspended in midair; that hand barely grazed Softy's skin before blood began to flow.
"Lang Ye, what's wrong?"
"It's Yuan Maiden; she's lost control." Just as Lang Ye finished speaking, Yuan Maiden launched a frenzied attack. Her sharp bone fingers sliced through the air with deadly intent.
The scent of Softy's blood stirred restless evil spirits that surged toward them. The sounds in the darkness grew louder and more terrifying.
Outside the cave, Huaisu sensed a crisis. She hurriedly sat cross-legged, trying to suppress the turmoil inside the cave.
Lang Ye transformed into the Wolf Head Spear, fending off Yuan Maiden's lethal attack. Softy shouted, "Lang Ye, don't hurt Yuan Maiden." "Yuan Maiden, wake up! Aren't you looking for your husband? How can you find him like this?"
Lang Ye pressed the spear tip against Female Intestine's throat. The pain brought her temporary clarity as she muttered, "Husband? Tan Lang? Liu Hanwen, where are you?"
The cries of a hundred years echoed in the cave, clearly attracting wandering souls. Lang Ye cursed and pulled Softy while dragging Yuan Maiden in another direction.
But it was too late; layers of Evil Spirits surrounded them like ants drawn to sugar.
Lang Ye let out a long howl, her spear transforming into a giant wolf as it engaged in a fierce battle with the approaching Vengeful Spirits. Yuan Maiden gradually regained her clarity and joined the fight.
Softy found herself sandwiched between the two, truly becoming a filling in a sandwich (not in the way you might think). She pulled Lang Ye to one side and then Yuan Maiden to the other. Although it was thrilling, it was also exhausting.
Lang Ye turned back and said, "Softy, this isn't working; there are too many of them. We can't kill them all."
"What should we do? Huaisu said we must leave within an hour, and we haven't found anyone."
"Little girl, what do you see over there?"
Softy followed Female Intestine's finger and noticed a gap in the stone wall.
"Lang Ye, can we get over there? It looks like there might be an exit."
Lang Ye took back her spear and panted like a wolf. "It better not be another trap!"
"Let's go check it out."
"Okay, hold on tight." Lang Ye turned and picked up Softy, startling her into wrapping her arms around his neck. Lang Ye flew toward the gap, dragging Yuan Maiden along like a kite while fending off the severed limbs reaching up from below.
The three finally managed to slip inside without incident. The Vengeful Spirits seemed to lose track of them, looking around in confusion and even colliding with one another. Outside the cave, Huaisu suddenly felt a gust of wind as someone attempted to breach her barrier with magic.
Huaisu leaped out of the barrier; upon seeing her, a shadow suddenly vanished. Huaisu hesitated briefly before pursuing in the northeast direction.
Peacock Valley Shrine.
Tang Zisu was already parched, but Kong Xuan kept urging, "Tang Zisu, hold on, you must hold on. Lang Ye and the others must have encountered something. Look at their Soul Lanterns; they keep flickering."
"Yes, I know. I will hold on." Tang Zisu felt as if her throat was on fire, but for Lang Ye and Softy, what was this little suffering worth?
Kong Xuan stood up in front of the statue of Ksitigarbha, as if it had been a long time since he could look at him directly. Some things, once they suddenly became uncontrollable and indistinguishable from reality, would make one feel as if they were dying over and over again just by thinking about them.
Kong Xuan lit three sticks of incense and placed them in the incense burner before Ksitigarbha. Then he said, "Today, let's put our personal grievances aside. Since you want to protect the villagers here, you must not repeat what happened three hundred years ago. I do not wish to fight anymore!"
The passage connected by that gap seemed very long. Softy tightly held onto Lang Ye, afraid of losing him with just a moment's carelessness. For some reason, there was a pervasive sense of sorrow and despair here; even the air they breathed was soaked in a flavor of hopelessness.
Who had experienced such profound sadness to reach this extreme?
Finally, they saw a small wind lantern. Beneath it sat a disheveled scholar holding a bell. Every so often, he would shake it—ding ding, ding ding.
When Yuan Maiden saw this ghostly figure, she suddenly found herself unable to move. She covered her mouth and stared wide-eyed at the scholar, but he seemed unable to see anyone; it was as if there was nothing in his world except for the ringing of the bell.
Ding ding, ding ding.
Who can bring a message to my wife? I can never return; let her find someone else to marry!
Who can take my bell back? I am going to have a child; I want to hang this above his cradle.
It’s not that I no longer love her or that I abandoned her; it’s just that I can never go back!
She resented him for a hundred years, yet he waited for her for a hundred years!
Softy nudged Yuan Maiden: "Is it him? Is he Liu Hanwen? You should go!"
They still looked the same as before, as if they had only parted for a short while. When Yuan Maiden crouched in front of him and brushed aside his messy hair, calling out "Tan Lang," Liu Hanwen slowly raised his head. He felt the woman before him becoming increasingly real in his vision. He moved his lips but could not produce any sound; it had been too long—waiting too long—with too much disappointment—he no longer knew what it meant to believe.
"Tan Lang! Tan Lang! It's me, Yuan Maiden!"
"Yuan Maiden? Yuan Maiden is pregnant and weak. I need to go up the mountain to catch a mountain chicken for her health. I originally wanted to buy a chicken, but instead bought this bell to hang above the child's cradle. Yuan Maiden... the child..."
After hundreds of years of questions finally found their answers, Yuan Maiden collapsed in tears on Liu Hanwen's knee.
Softy wiped her tears while hiding in Lang Ye's embrace. Lang Ye held her tightly, gently saying, "Softy, don't cry, Softy, don't cry!" Yet he couldn't help but feel his own eyes redden; the wind had picked up, and sand stung their eyes.
Wolf King, the manly wolf, thought there was nothing to be ashamed of. Even if he cried, he would still stand up and keep going!
"Lang Ye, what should we do now?" Softy asked as she wiped her tears on Lang Ye's shirt. When she looked up, she met his deep gaze. He smiled at her, filled with certainty and encouragement. Lang Ye patted Softy's back and said, "Are you thinking about taking Liu out?"
"Yes." Softy nodded vigorously. "Am I overestimating myself?"
"To be honest, yes. But you have me. From now on, if you want to do anything, you don't have to measure your strength; just measure mine."
Damn it, Black Wolf! Did you eat ten pounds of honey or something? Your sweet talk could really kill someone!
"It's impossible to get out; this is a deadlock. No matter if it's a person or a ghost, no one can escape," Liu Hanwen suddenly said quietly.
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