Chapter 245
Chapter 245
Having recounted the events of those hundred years, Xueyin seemed relieved.
She even found the courage to lift her head and meet the Lord of the Netherworld’s gaze.
“Hanyuan has gone as far wrong as anyone can. Whatever punishment you decree, Earth Lord, I will not object.”
The Earth Lord said nothing, but turned to Mogu beside him.
“Mogu, how do you think I should deal with her?”
Mogu emerged from her thoughts, still looking as though none of this concerned her.
“I only want to know what any of these things she has said have to do with me.”
The Earth Lord did not answer immediately. He glanced at Ren Fengjue nearby before saying, “The Ghost God matter you were investigating in Beiding County is connected to this soul.”
Mogu raised her brows. “What exactly is this soul’s origin?”
Then she asked Xueyin, “Where is he now?”
Xueyin lowered her head and said softly, “Even if I told you, you might not be able to do anything to him…”
“In the mortal world, he now wields immense power and commands a mighty army. Even the current emperor may not dare move against him.”
Mogu understood at once.
Was he truly Jiang Ting, the Marquis of Zhenbei?
Nearby, Ren Fengjue had heard her words too, and his expression was equally complicated.
As one of the marquises who helped found the dynasty, Jiang Ting had rendered great service in war.
Though he had remained far from the Capital for years, guarding the Northern Border, the real power he held could not be underestimated.
Most importantly, Great Qi now upheld the law. Even the emperor, if he broke it, was guilty of the same crime as a commoner.
Even to punish Jiang Ting, the emperor would have to present the charges against him.
This matter concerned not only the worlds of the living and the dead, but court politics as well.
Mogu looked at the Earth Lord again, making no attempt to hide the reproach in her eyes. “If you knew of this a hundred years ago, why did you not keep sending people to investigate?”
Before the Earth Lord spoke, Xueyin explained for him. “Because I removed his name from the Book of Life and Death. The Underworld Administration could not trace him at all.”
“And apart from me, no one in the world knew whose body that soul was hiding in.”
“…”
Mogu looked at her, speechless. She could only turn to the Earth Lord. “Is it not time you told me what connection that soul… has to me?”
The Earth Lord hesitated too before saying, “All I can tell you is that he is connected to the reason you entered the Nine Abysses Prison.”
Mogu’s expression froze. The words seemed to echo endlessly in her ears…
Though she was a soul, she still had the illusion of all the blood in her body rushing upward at once.
Despite the distance between them, Ren Fengjue could clearly sense the turmoil in her emotions.
He thought she would erupt. Yet after a long silence, all she said was, “I understand.”
Then she told the Earth Lord, “Deal with the ghosts of the Ghost King’s Palace however you wish. Just give me what I am owed.”
Mogu took a step forward. No emotion remained visible on her face.
The Earth Lord said no more and immediately transferred the promised ten percent of soul power to her.
*
In Mingyue Villa, the Illusionary Realm dispersed.
As they opened their eyes, the others found themselves back in the forecourt one after another.
Yu Lang shuddered violently. “That was terrifying! I was nearly eaten by a ghost. If not for Daoist Yan…”
He impatiently began recounting the dangers he had just faced in the Illusionary Realm.
Then he turned and saw Ren Fengjue and Xia Ximo.
“Lord Ren, Miss Xia! You two…”
He approached, intending to ask what had happened to them, but his sharp eyes noticed that Xia Ximo was pale and seemed injured.
Ren Fengjue was supporting her firmly.
“What happened to Miss Xia?”
At the sight, Vice Minister Yu grew anxious too.
Knowing what had happened, Ren Fengjue hurriedly lifted Xia Ximo into his arms and headed into the villa.
“We will talk later. First, find somewhere for Miss Xia to rest.”
The others dared ask no more and immediately followed him to the rear courtyard.
Xia Ximo had never expected that, although she came alive again after leaving the Illusionary Realm, the pain in her body would remain.
The piercing agony of the sword wound was vivid and precise, drawing cold sweat from her entire body.
Yet even in such pain, she only frowned tightly, making no sound.
Ren Fengjue laid her on the bed and sent the others out.
He stood beside the bed, wavering for a moment as though struggling with himself. Then, his face suddenly red, he said, “Miss Mo, forgive the intrusion!”
As he spoke, he abruptly leaned toward her…
The movement made Xia Ximo pause. Instinctively, she held him back.
“What do you mean?”
“I want… to examine your injury.”
“…”
“There is no need,” Xia Ximo explained. “The wound disappeared when we left the Illusionary Realm.”
Only then did Ren Fengjue think of the injury on his own shoulder. He hastily turned to inspect it. Sure enough, the wound was gone.
But compared with the sword thrust Xia Ximo had suffered, his injury was certainly minor. Even now, he could faintly feel the pain.
It took little imagination to guess how much she must be hurting…
“The wound is gone, but the pain remains…”
For once, Xia Ximo did not deny it. “A little.”
Ren Fengjue was silent for a moment, apparently trying to think of a solution.
Leaning against the pillow, Xia Ximo felt a wave of weariness, though her mind remained exceptionally clear.
“Do not worry about me,” she said. “Go out and see whether the villa has returned to normal.”
“Then… rest well for now.”
Seeing the fatigue between her brows, Ren Fengjue hurriedly closed the door and windows for her before leaving the room.
Silence returned.
But in Xia Ximo’s mind, the Earth Lord’s words kept sounding: he was connected to the reason she had entered the Nine Abysses Prison.
A soul whose name and identity she did not know.
That meant they had known each other in life, and had been deeply entangled.
At the thought, the wound in her body seemed to hurt even more.
Outside, the wind whistled, tapping softly against the door and windows. It seemed the snow truly had never stopped.
Just then, the Soul-Ferrying Lantern suddenly shook, and Wuyou emerged.
They could sense the Soul Ferryman’s troubled thoughts and that she had been hurt, and hurriedly asked, “Mogu, what exactly happened to you and the Young Marquis in the Illusionary Realm?”
Xia Ximo could not be bothered to explain. “Find the soul called Changsheng. I have something to ask him.”
Wuyou was about to go when snow suddenly drifted through the room. Then it transformed into Changsheng’s figure inside the guest room.
“There is no need to look. I am here.”
Xia Ximo looked at him and said directly, “Your young lady has returned to the Underworld Administration. She asked me to tell you not to wait for her any longer. If you wish, I can use the Soul-Ferrying Lantern to send you on to reincarnation.”
Changsheng was silent for a moment, then asked in a trembling voice, “Will the young lady… die?”
Xia Ximo paused before answering, “She is not human. She is a deity of the Underworld Administration. Naturally, she will not die.”
“But she has done wrong, and the Lord of the Netherworld will punish her.”
Changsheng choked back a sob. “I know she has been in pain all these years. Even when she committed these wrongs, she was suffering inside. With things ending this way, I am actually… happy for her.”
Xia Ximo had not expected him to say that.
She, too, was silent for a moment before saying, “It seems your young lady is your only lingering attachment in this world.”
“Then go on your way in peace.”