Lo Yingbai shook his head, softly saying, “Everyone wants happiness, but happiness isn’t something you can simply conjure. It requires effort. If two people are together for vanity or interests, when the superficial things wear off, they’ll only become burdens to each other. Only by supporting and loving each other can you create a better life.”
He retracted his gaze: “In this world, deep love can be short-lived, and extreme strength can lead to humiliation. Don’t think you’re entitled to demand anything. The key has always been within yourself. Take care of yourself.”
Wen Qianqian stood stunned, unsure what to say.
Meanwhile, Xia Xianning walked over, knocked on the door, and Lo Yingbai left with him.
These ghost-like figures were bound by black chains, with underworld officers escorting them. The long procession marched directly towards Xia Xianning’s car, surrounding the vehicle when they reached it.
Luo Yingbai said, “This looks like a robbery. How much do you owe them?”
Xia Xianning opened the car door and stepped out: “No matter who owes whom, I don’t like being forcibly blocked on the road.”
He used a water-repelling spell, so when he got out, all the rainwater curved around him. The sudden cool air made Luo Yingbai, who was wearing only a short-sleeved shirt in the car, sneeze.
Xia Xianning returned to the car, picked up a long-sleeved shirt from the back seat, and handed it to him. Then he walked straight to the group of underworld officers and called out: “Long Cloud Cave, Flowing Water Without Heart, disciples of Liuliu Sect Luo Yingbai and Xia Xianning ask the officers, why do you block our path?”
Luo Yingbai followed Xia Xianning out of the car but leaned against the car door, observing the situation.
The lead officer said in a deep voice: “Captain Xia, why ask when you know the reason? You inserted the Heavenly True Lord’s divine sword into the underworld, and the sword qi injured the City Prince.
You then refused to remove the sword, allowing it to block the path of spirits to the Great Anger and Great Sorrow Hell. How arrogant! If Captain Xia cannot provide an explanation today, these spirits unable to enter hell will have to keep you company!
Xia Xianning didn’t explain, simply saying coldly: “Then let’s see what happens.”
At that moment, his figure wavered, and a white figure suddenly appeared among the escorted ghost procession. Golden light burst forth in the rainy mist, instantly causing chaos in the ranks.
Luo Yingbai crossed his arms, watching Xia Xianning fight with admiration. Xia Xianning was like a clear wind moving through dense fog, dispelling evil wherever he went, instantly dissipating the yin energy.
More deviously, he wasn’t just trying to break through, but was collecting souls in his bottle as he moved, capturing the rushing evil spirits.
With his fluid movements, the wailing ghosts visibly diminished, quickly losing their formation.
The underworld officers were shocked – these ghosts were all registered in the Great Anger and Great Sorrow Hell, meant to be judged, and now more than half had been taken by Xia Xianning.
Several hell-specific long spears flew towards Xia Xianning, but he didn’t even look, simply reversing their direction with a shake, instantly sweeping them aside. Had he not shown some restraint, the struck ghost officers would have been instantly annihilated.
Luo Yingbai applauded: “Not bad, looks like you’ve improved. This makes your senior brother proud.”
As he spoke, a crack suddenly appeared in the rainy mist beside him. In a flash of lightning, a sharp sword blade swept towards his neck.
Luo Yingbai’s face still bore a gentle smile, seemingly unaware. But just as the sword was about to touch him, his body slightly shifted, and he caught the blade between two fingers, then flicked it away.
The returned sword blade transformed into a white jade tablet, positioned between Luo Yingbai and a black-robed figure that had appeared out of nowhere.
Luo Yingbai laughed and said: “Xian Ning, you tell me, why did you injure the City King’s son, and why didn’t you pull out the Heavenly Truth Lord’s divine sword? Look at how angry the City King is. As one of the Ten Palace Yama Lords, you resorted to ambushing me.”
City King: “…”
Xia Xianning showed great respect in front of the City King. He first slightly bowed to Luo Yingbai and answered “Yes”, then cupped his hands towards the City King and said: “Since the City King is so dissatisfied, I have a few questions I’d like to ask.”
Xia Xianning continued without waiting for a response: “When investigating cases in the Yang realm, regardless of the case’s size or which ghosts and gods are involved, it should be managed by my Special Investigation Bureau. But during my interrogation, the ground suddenly split open, and the City King’s son disrupted the interrogation. May I ask what reasoning is behind this? My injury to him was not intentional, but for self-defense, this is point one.”
He paused, then continued: “Secondly, I did not intentionally leave the Heavenly Truth Lord’s divine sword. I asked the Underworld three times why they interfered with the interrogation, but received no response. Since that’s the case, I had to leave some evidence.”
Luo Yingbai suddenly understood: “Oh, so that’s how it is.”
It seems we first need the City King to explain why the City King’s son interrupted the interrogation. The Underworld interfering in Yang realm matters has no precedent.”
To solve this matter meant reclaiming the remnant soul of Ghost Extreme Great Lord. Luo Mingbai said with a half-smile, “I see. So the City King’s original intention was probably to play dumb and leave this mess for us in the human world to handle?”
The City King angrily retorted, “How could I do such a thing? I was just planning how to solve this without consulting you mortals, and you beat me to it!”
Although the City King was arrogant and looked down on others, he still had basic responsibility. Luo Mingbai asked, “Xian Ning, what do you plan to do?”
Xia Xianning replied, “I’ll listen to my senior brother. Whatever you say goes.”
So Xia Xianning would show respect to Luo Mingbai in his presence, which made Luo Mingbai’s scalp tingle with his unusual obedience.
Now put away your sword and return the fierce ghosts you just collected to the City King.”
Xia Xianning nodded, first taking out the soul-collecting bottle and extending it. The City King was about to take it, but Xia Xianning didn’t let go.
Luo Mingbai asked, “Where’s the sincerity from the Underworld?”
The City King pondered for a moment and said in a muffled voice, “If you two want nothing, I can establish a contract to help you complete something as compensation for handling this matter. I know you’ve already captured Yue Huan. As long as you’re willing to hand him over to the Underworld to separate the Ghost Extreme Emperor’s soul, the agreement will be reached.”
He emphasized again, “But I can only offer one promise.”
His promise was far more valuable than magical artifacts or treasures. No mortal would refuse such an offer, so the City King deliberately left some room for manipulation, offering compensation and subtly provoking the relationship between the senior and junior brothers.
After speaking, he wrote in the air with his finger, and a golden contract quickly appeared between the three, with only a space for a handprint in the bottom right corner.
Luo Mingbai didn’t hesitate: “Xian Ning, you’ve worked hard on this. You do it.”
Once Xia Xianning pressed his handprint, it would mean the City King would unconditionally do something for him in the future.
In Luo Mingbai’s view, if someone should take advantage of this situation, it should be Xian Ning.
The City King was surprised that these two weren’t just superficial brothers but genuinely close.
