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墨書 Inktalez
This was a council chamber, and the man on the high seat leaned back in a mahogany chair, propping his chin on one hand. His eyes, calm and distant, gazed straight ahead. When I entered, it seemed they had just finished speaking and were all waiting for me.
As I stepped inside, I glanced at the man on the high seat before quickly averting my gaze. Following the customs here, I offered my greetings, but he did not rise. I found myself unable to move, half-squatting in place for what felt like an eternity, with no sound coming from him.
I was also stubbornly rooted to the spot, even though I could barely stand.
Finally, it was the man on the high seat who broke the silence. "Aren't you even a little surprised?"
I knew what he was referring to. The moment I entered and my gaze fell upon his face, I had indeed been taken aback.
The King of Hell was not wearing his Human Skin Mask today. He bore a striking resemblance to Jun Chong—at least seventy percent similar—though Jun Chong exuded a kind of dominance and toughness from the battlefield that this man lacked. Instead, there was an underlying coldness about him.
A scar cut across his left brow, somewhat unsettling yet unable to mask his striking beauty. He wore a faint smile that felt like a spring breeze but was as cold and unfeeling as the Frost surrounding him; any tenderness he displayed was merely superficial and false.
So after that initial surprise, I clearly understood they were not the same person, and calmness returned.
"I was, but not anymore," I replied honestly. It was better to be straightforward; otherwise, he might concoct some scheme to torment me.
"Hey."
The King of Hell smiled while resting his forehead on his hand. His black hair fell across his face, partially obscuring the scar on his brow, creating an alluring haze.
He lacked Jun Chong's arrogant charm but possessed an innate allure that emanated from deep within. If one were easily captivated by someone, it would undoubtedly be the King of Hell.
But if I had to choose someone to spend my life with, it would undoubtedly be Jun Chong.
Because once Jun Chong gives his heart, he will never betray it. The King of the Underworld, on the other hand, would sacrifice love for many things.
This was my first impression after seeing his true form, though it felt like a familiar sentiment from long ago, as if I had once evaluated him through another pair of eyes.
"Anxin, come here."
"Yes."
I obediently stepped forward while Stunning moved aside. The King of the Underworld looked up at me, a smirk playing on his lips as he pulled me into his embrace. Just as I was about to refuse, I noticed a document on the table—let's call it a petition.
It read: "The Underworld is in turmoil; Vengeful Spirits and Malevolent Ghosts are extremely restless, seemingly attempting to break free from their confines. Additionally, outsiders have invaded the Underworld with the intent to steal the Emerald Feather Box. Please advise, Your Majesty, should we eradicate them completely?"
There was no signature at the bottom, but each word struck deep.
My heart raced. Jun Chong had just mentioned going to the Underworld for the purpose of obtaining the Emerald Feather Box, and now there was a petition regarding it.
Was this all part of Jun Chong's plan, or had the Underworld truly been invaded by outsiders seeking the Emerald Feather Box?
If it were the former, I wouldn't worry; it would simply be a matter of going with the flow.
But if it were the latter, then swift decisions would need to be made.
So I merely glanced at it and asked, "What is this?"
"Lianchi said you came from the Underworld; how could you not know?"
The voice of the King of the Underworld carried a smile, but I could detect the sarcasm beneath it. He knew I was Jun Chong's wife, a human involved in a Ghost Marriage, yet he deliberately said this to remind me that he was aware of my little thoughts.
There is an ancient saying: "When you arrive, make yourself comfortable."
"The Underworld is filled with Vengeful Spirits and Malevolent Ghosts. If they escape, it could cause harm to the realm. You are the King of the Underworld; such matters must be decided quickly. Protecting your subjects should always come first."
"Haha!" It was clear that the King was in particularly good spirits today. He twirled my hair between his fingers, playing with it. "Your words truly have the demeanor of a Queen of the Underworld. What have you considered?"
Queen of the Underworld?
I glanced at Stunning, who stood by with a smile, looking very gentle. However, the King did not seem to be joking; I couldn't tell which of his words were playful and which were serious.
"Your Majesty, please don't jest. How can my looks compare to Sister Stunning? I merely spoke without thinking."
"Indeed."
The King replied with just those two words, narrowing his eyes while lightly tapping on the table with his other hand.
Everyone fell silent, and only the rhythmic sound of his tapping replaced all other noises.
Listening to it made my unease grow stronger.
Fortunately, after a short while, Lianchi spoke up with a smile. "Your Majesty, I believe that since Miss Anxin hails from the Underworld, she must be quite familiar with it. Why not let her lead us this time? It would make our entry much easier, considering how strange the Underworld is. Moreover—"
At this point, he winked at me playfully, causing me to shiver.
"And this would also serve to train Miss Anxin's abilities. She was born in the Underworld and has no right to be the King's woman; if she succeeds, it would be a great achievement and silence any gossip about her becoming Queen of the Underworld. If she fails, she can only blame her own fate."
The words were uncomfortable to hear, but ultimately aligned with my intentions. As long as the King of the Underworld agreed, there would be no problem.
"Your Majesty, I oppose," Qin Ling stepped forward, not even glancing in my direction. "Forgive my rudeness, but she is a troublemaker herself, and bringing her along would only complicate matters further. It would be much more straightforward for me to handle this directly."
"You—"
I was so furious I could spit blood. How could he be as sharp-tongued as Molin!
"How dare you speak to me like that!"
"What I said is the truth."
I gritted my teeth in anger, but Qin Ling kept his head down, completely ignoring me. The King of the Underworld smiled and asked, "Anxin, what do you think?"
"I don't want to go."
I admitted that I had spoken those two words out of anger. Unintentionally, I noticed Stunning's hand, which had been tightly gripping her waist, relax at my words.
Suddenly, the King of the Underworld stopped tapping his fingers and beckoned to Stunning with a finger. "Stunning, what do you think? Should I let Anxin go?"
Stunning smiled sweetly and stepped closer to the King. "In my opinion, it would be better if she didn't go. After all, Miss Anxin is also a woman. I've heard about that place; it's far too dangerous. If something were to happen, it would surely sadden you. Although I feel a bit jealous, you are the King of the Underworld, and there are other women besides me. As long as you hold me in your heart, that's enough."
"Stunning understands," the King said as he pinched Stunning's cheek before releasing me. I stood up from beside him and smoothed out my slightly wrinkled dress. Before I could lift my head, he declared, "We will go with Stunning's suggestion. Anxin, you may return!"
"Huh?"
I was taken aback and frowned at Stunning. She had been pulled into the King's embrace, her delicate face flushed with embarrassment as she completely ignored me. A sense of confusion filled my mind; Stunning was Jun Chong's person—why would she oppose my going?
With questions swirling in my mind, I returned to my room, feeling increasingly uneasy. I couldn't find Little Bugs or Mu Yan, but I heard news that at sunrise tomorrow, Qin Ling would lead a team of reapers to the Underworld. If I didn't come up with a plan, there would be no hope for me.
I paced back and forth in the room, unable to sleep. As the moon hung high in the sky, I rested my chin on my hands and stared blankly at the night sky.
"What should I do?"
"I knew you would be worried." A gentle voice came from beside me. Turning around, I saw Stunning. She was dressed simply in plain clothes, yet her beauty was beyond description.
"Stunning?"
"Shh!" Stunning made a gesture for silence and pulled me into the room, closing the window behind us. "I came to tell you that that memorial was presented by Rong Zhi. If you go to the Underworld now as Lianchi wishes, the King of Hell will definitely be suspicious."
"Rong Zhi?"
Stunning nodded. "He called you over just to see your reaction. Although Rong Zhi has been out of office for a long time, there hasn't been a reaper who has become a Rakshasa since then; only Rong Zhi holds that title. He still has a certain status in the King of Hell's eyes, and there are many who admire him in the Underworld. Even if the King wanted to ignore it, he couldn't. But deep down, he knows that Rong Zhi is with Lord. Once that memorial was presented, he would certainly guess that Lord is aware of it too. So if you had agreed at that moment, you would have been in great danger—not only ruining Lord's plans but also implicating Rong Zhi."
Stunning smiled slightly at me as she finished speaking. "Fortunately, you said you wouldn't go."
"But if I don't go, Jun Chong's plan can't be executed. What should I do?"
"That's why I came to find you!"
Stunning smiled again, leaving me even more confused. "What are you planning? If I backtrack now, he will definitely suspect something."
"Anxin, what do you think I am?"
"Huh?" I looked at her in bewilderment, not understanding. "Weren't you an Earthbound Spirit before? Now you're a beautiful ghost."
"When I was doing the Earthbound Spirit, I inadvertently saved a Soul Devouring Insect. We got along quite well, and later it returned to the Underworld. Due to the turmoil in the Underworld, it had to go back."
"I'm even more confused now. Just say it plainly! My mind has been muddled lately, and I can't make sense of all these twists and turns."
Stunning sighed, smiled, and tapped my forehead with her finger before taking my hand. "Look at this."
I saw a pinprick-like wound on my left Middle Finger. It wasn't a red spot from bleeding but a black bump resembling a mole.
"What is this about?"
"Do you remember when the Little Bugs were soul-harvested by the Soul Devouring Insect and almost lost their lives? Did you feel a sting when you touched her back then?"
As soon as she mentioned it, I understood immediately. "So that's how it is."
"For the Soul Devouring Insect to devour souls, it must burrow into the soul body and consume it through soul harvesting. So that incident back then was entirely planned by us, just for this moment."
"So Jun Chong knew too?"
"Yes." Stunning laid me back on the bed and continued explaining, "Tonight, you will go to bed, and tomorrow morning news will break that you were captured by the Soul Devouring Insect. Where the Soul Devouring Insect will go is obvious. Just sleep peacefully; everything has already been arranged. The Underworld is easy to enter but hard to exit, so be careful. I must return now; otherwise, the King of Hell will become suspicious."
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