"Your Highness, my men really saw the real golden robe in Jiuchong Hall, but I do not understand how the package was swapped into a bunch of beef jerky. I hope this comes to your attention, Your Highness!" Up until this stage, Elder Wu knew he had no place to retreat anymore, so he might as well put the blame on Baili Jia Jue, "Your Highness! The army is still fighting outside. Despite the desperate situation, the Third Prince is here in the hall and he does not seem to have the slightest intention to stop the rebellion! The evidence that I've searched out of the difficulty is even swapped into snacks by some intentional party! Your Highness, you must have an idea about what is really going on since all the matters are laid out before your eyes!"
The Emperor pressed onto the arm of the dragon throne with his left hand as he remained silent. The doubts in his eyes when he looked at Baili Jia Jue did not subside at all.
Baili Jia Jue said slowly, "Elder Wu, your ability to blame others for your own crimes is really something. You claimed that your men saw the real golden robe in Jiuchong Hall, but Elder Wu, do I need to remind you that the Elder Compound is on the west side of the palace while Jiuchong Hall is at another corner? How did your men see through all the courts and halls in the palace and noticed what was in Jiuchong Hall?
After hearing what he said, the crowd turned and looked at Elder Wu.
"I ..." Elder Wu turned pale, still intending to defend himself.
Baili Jia Jue's cold voice interrupted him, "Planting your man in the prince's chamber? How dare you plant your man at my side, Elder Wu! Don't you forget what place this is! This is the palace! Elder Wu, do you even respect the imperial family's dignity and the law of the kingdom? Planting your men to spy at whosoever's side that you like? What about the Emperor and the Retired Emperor? Did you plant your men beside them too?"
The Emperor squinted his eyes at Elder Wu, letting out an extremely gloomy aura.
Elder Wu shouted, "This is slander! I have been accused, Your Highness! I am an elder of three generations, I know what I should do and what I shouldn't. As for the golden robe appearing in Jiuchong Hall, I heard of it purely out of coincidence, I did not probe with intentions! Even if I am given the courage, I dare not interfere with the imperial family's matter. Since the Third Prince is so concerned about this, it must be due to the fact that the news is real, Your Highness!"
"Ah Jue, I am giving you one last chance." The Emperor walked over and landed his gaze on the black package, he then said with a heavy tone, "Tell me, what was originally inside this package?"
Baili Jia Jue's face was icy-cold when he raised a brow. "Father, rather than asking irrelevant questions, why not ask Elder Wu what is the punishment for accusing a prince of treason and how should he be punished for his crimes?"
"Third Prince!" Elder Wu bellowed, looking exasperated, "His Highness is kind enough to give you another chance, why are you not cherishing it? What reasons do I have to accuse you? I only spoke facts! Otherwise, why did you not send in reinforcements to fight off the rebellion outside the palace?"
Baili Jia Jue lowered his head, his calm gaze was locked at Elder Wu before his thin lips curled into a unique smile. His smile was fluttering with elegance yet there was an endless coldness from it, "Who said that I did not do anything about the rebellion army?"
What does he mean?!
Elder Wu was petrified, his heart sank and his legs started to turn to jelly.
Impossible!
This is impossible!
He was here at Chaoyang Palace all this time, how did he manage to call in reinforcements?
But... why was he having a strong unsettling feeling?
A loud bang went off outside right when Elder Wu blinked!
It was as if something had exploded!
The fire and smoke rising to the sky were even visible from the hall!
Elder Wu looked over immediately but another bang went off before he could say anything!
A second loud explosion echoed across the sky!
Baili Jia Jue stood in the smoke with a smile on his face. The lights reflected in his eyes were like shattered diamonds, so sharp that they could penetrate through one's heart!
"Report!" The leader of the imperial army outside the hall rushed in and knelt on one knee as he gave the fist in palm salute. "Your Highness, reinforcements are here right outside the hall. The reinforcement army had surrounded the rebellion and they are forced to a dead end. It is only a matter of time before they are completely wiped out!"
There are really reinforcements?!
Elder Wu widened his eyes, his body quivered and his lips were pale as paper.
No, he could not afford to get panicked!
Besides, there was nothing for him to be panicked!
Since the Third Prince had sent out reinforcements, he would have to resolve to his second plan!
Although it might not be as smooth as the first plan, it could still doom Baili Jia Jue!
The coup was suppressed.
The Emperor heaved a breath of relief, but a reluctant emotion rose in him at the same time. He raised his brow and asked, "Where did the reinforcements come from?"
"Well... Your Highness, I don't know either." The leader of the imperial army hesitated, he looked at Baili Jia Jue beside him before he said, "But by the looks of it, they are mostly here because of the Third Prince."
The Emperor furrowed his brows tightly. "What do you mean that they are here because of the Third Prince by the looks of it? Didn't you find out what flag the reinforcement army was carrying?"
"I... I..." The leader of the imperial army did not know what he should tell the Emperor. The group of reinforcement army moved quick and clean just like the wind, fights followed wherever they went. There were not many of them but every single one of them carried a weird weapon and one of them could easily rival a dozen of the imperial army. More importantly, they did not carry any army flag. Therefore, the imperial army did not know where the reinforcement army was from.
Elder Wu seized the timing and said, "Your Highness, I'm afraid that you won't get any answers from Leader Zhang here. The only army closest to the palace is the city watch guards that Your Highness commands. However, Leader Zhang here said that the reinforcement army showed up because of the Third Prince. Well... This is the first time that I've heard that a prince ascending to the throne has the power to command the city watch guards. The more I think about the Third Prince, the colder I feel. He can even influence the city watch guards! I suppose Your Highness can see through the real situation here without any more words from me. Should I say that the Third Prince exposed himself because he tried to save his skin?" Elder Wu turned around and locked gaze with Baili Jia Jue. "Your Highness, how did you command the city watch guards to do at your bidding? Shouldn't you explain yourself?"
Nangong Lie finally understood what Elder Wu was scheming. That elder named Wu would have things to say about this coup regardless of whether Ah Jue sent in reinforcements!
The palace defense army was the reserved army commanded by only the Emperor himself.
Even the Retired Emperor could not do anything, let alone the prince with a sensitive identity.
If the prince really commanded the city watch guards, he would certainly be doomed!
"Why are you not speaking, Your Highness?" Elder Wu exerted more pressure, "Don't know what to say?"
Baili Jia Jue lowered his head, his bangs covered his long narrow eyes which were gleaming with coldness.
Elder Wu saw his reaction and thought that the Third Prince was speechless.
A loud bang was heard right when he was about to add on!
The door of the Chaoyang Hall was kicked open!
A person was holding something similar to a long black pipe. The person had long and slim legs and there was a smile on her face. With her fair and beautiful skin, it could only be one person, Helian Wei Wei.
Her lips were half-curved as she leaned against the door. She stood not far away from Baili Jia Jue and her eyes were filled with sneers, "Elder Wu, who told you that we are the city watch guards?"
"You... You... !" Elder Wu would never have thought Helian Wei Wei would come back like this. He thought that she had returned to Jiuchong Hall due to an unwell condition.
Helian Wei Wei placed her fingers on her lips, her actions were sharp and valiant when she let out a loud whistle.
A dozen black figures came down in a synchronized movement but every one of them was unique in their own way.
All of them had excellent physiques. Some were buffed, some were handsome and some were showing a smile on their faces. They had white bandages coiled up on their arms as each of them was holding machine guns and snipers. Their presence was unusual, amid the cool fierceness was a heavy bloodthirsty aura!
The leader of the imperial army let out a cry of realization as he pointed at the men, "Your Highness! It's them, it was these 20 or so people who stopped the rebellion army!"
About 20 of them stopped the fierce rebellion army??!!
That sounds impossible!
How did they do it?
The crowd was looking at them who stood in a straight line. Their gazes were showing indescribable interest.
"Well then." Helian Wei Wei walked over to Baili Jia Jue and widened her smile at Elder Wu. Her gesture had an inexplicable arrogant and domineering bearing, "Tell Elder Wu and the Emperor who you people are."
"Yes, Young Master!" The men's reply in unison was so loud that it almost shook the entire Chaoyang Hall, "We are the General's hidden army from Helian manor!"
What?!
The hidden army?!
Elder Wu faltered to the back. He felt a chill down his spine as if he was splashed by a pail of cold water from head to toe!
The crowd stood up out of clamor, their eyes were filled with astonishment!
Everyone present in the hall knew about the legends of the hidden army!
Many of them once hoped to catch a glimpse of the strongest and most valiant troops in the history of the War Dragon Empire!
However, the hidden army seemed to have disappeared after Old Master Helian's passing.
The people had doubts about it although there were people saying that Helian Wei Wei had gained the recognition of the hidden army a while ago.
They had not seen the hidden army before, so it was nothing but rumors to them.
But now!
The hidden army appeared right before their eyes!
"Your Highness." Helian Wei Wei curled her thin lips. "I suppose you don't have any reason to suspect the Third Prince anymore. He did not command the city watch guards but us, the hidden army, to protect the palace and your safety. After all, there are a lot of eminent monks that came into the palace, it's not that surprising if someone used the opportunity to cause trouble. It was unfortunate that Your Highness did not trust the Third Prince nor I. Since Elder Wu here is allowed to slander as he wished, it is difficult for us to make it in time, hence granting the rebellion army the window of breathing. Your Highness is sagacious, I suppose you won't blame us for coming late for the rescue, right?"
Helian Wei Wei's words to the Emperor was like a fishbone in his throat, every single word that came out of her mouth was like slapping the Emperor's face.
But he could not get angry!
No emperor would criticize a person with merit in front of the public!
It would not only make him look despicable to the public, but his act would also be written down in the history books.
He could not allow himself to bear the title of a fatuous ruler!
Therefore, no matter how unhappy the Emperor was, all he could do was to endure it. He grabbed the arm of his dragon throne tightly and forced a generous smile on his face, "Eunuch Gao!"
"Yes, Your Highness." Eunuch Gao could not grasp the Emperor's emotion anymore, he quivered when he was summoned.
The Emperor looked at Helian Wei Wei as he tightened his grip on the arm of the dragon throne. "Send my words out, the Third Princess Consort has performed meritorious service for protecting the Emperor and will be heavily rewarded!"
"Yes, Your Highness." Eunuch Gao looked down and stepped away.
Helian Wei Wei smiled, "Your Highness, don't be such a hurry with rewards. You still haven't dealt with Elder Wu's huge crime of accusing the prince."
After hearing what she said, the Emperor's smile sank. His eyes were glued to Helian Wei Wei but he did not say anything, it was obvious that he was disconsolate.
A person as smart as Helian Wei Wei would have known how offensive she was toward the Emperor on that day.
But it was her particular temper that shielded her shortcomings perfectly.
As a father, he had to frame his own son of treason so that he could protect his throne and reputation.
Such a father was not fit to be a human being!
As if the little face of hers was too misanthropic, Baili Jia Jue reached out and hugged her back, he whispered, "Wei Wei..."
Helian Wei Wei glanced over him and comforted him, "Don't worry, with me around, you shall take no grievance from anyone!"
He actually wanted to tell her to leave the rest up to him. If he was the one who would deal with the matters, the others around him would be tortured even more.
However, His Highness was shameless in this particular field.
He complied to Helian Wei Wei's suggestion and continued.
Although his tone was a little lighter, it sounded like he was sighing, "I guess that's what happens when one is not adored since he was young. I got used to the matters similar to today's, it's just that it's a little hard on the feelings. Can you accompany me tonight for a drink?"
"Of course!"
Helian Wei Wei would definitely agree!
She would even brew the liquor herself for His Highness, let alone have a drink.
"But don't feel too bad about it."
In terms of comforting people, our beloved queen Wei Wei had always been on the weaker side. She allowed His Highness to halt her movements as he exerted most of his strength on her, causing her shoulders to be a little shaky.
Helian Wei Wei thought that he was having a difficult time. She comforted him even more with an awkward posture but unknown to her, His Highness was actually smiling brightly with a sly expression.
Nangong Lie was the closest to the two of them. Of course, he saw everything that happened. His mouth had been twitching the whole time.
Even if he was His Highness' brother who grew up together, he had to criticize him!
Ah Jue is really, really, really shameless!
Elder Wu must have hit his head on something. Why would he frame Ah Jue and not someone else?
After his worry vanished, Nangong Lie reverted to his bewitching looks with the white feather fan in his hand. Then, he looked over to the direction of Elder Wu who was petrified ...
Baili Jia Jue also looked up at the moment. His eyes were as still as dead water but there was a bewitching delight. It made Elder Wu felt worse than death.
Doomed!
Not even the Emperor could protect him this time ...
"How dare you! " The Emperor who was still maintaining his majesty started coughing violently after he said those words.
It was for no other reason, but only because the man who was standing in front of him was Baili Jia Jue.
His son who he feared all along.
He just looked at him and said nothing.
It reminded the Emperor about what happened seven years ago. When Baili Jia Jue was not a grown-up yet, he stood in the deep part of the palace eerily after the fire. He was staring at him with his left eye wrapped with gauze.
His gaze was condescending with an ominous sense.
The Emperor could not even imagine that it was a look from a child.
Therefore, he had never been close to this child.
No one knew better about the ruthlessness and cruelty of his third son than him and such a man would definitely seize his throne sooner or later!
The Emperor shut his eyes tightly but he had to suppress his anger because he knew better than anyone that his son was never a good target to provoke.
It was because he understood him that he wanted to get rid of him...
However, he could not get rid of him right now.
It was not a good time as there was a rebellion outside and the ministers were inside.
The Emperor sank his eyes and glanced over Elder Wu who was distracted. He then waved his long sleeve and said, "Old Wu, look out for yourself!" It seemed that he did not want to listen to Elder Wu's explanation again because no matter what he was going to say, he was only going to remind him that his image as the emperor was spoiled hard this time.
"What's next?" Eunuch Gao had been the Emperor's serf for many years so he could always guess the Emperor's thoughts correctly. He also knew that he had to give the Emperor a chance to extricate himself from the awkward position.
As the Emperor strode forward, he dropped a sentence, "Everything will be handled by the Third Prince." He then disappeared into the palace door, leaving only small flames of his anger.
However, his rage did not affect Baili Jia Jue at all.
He slowly twisted the silver ring in his hand and walked toward Elder Wu...
Thud!
Elder Wu could not stand the coldness coming from the bottom of his heart anymore. He fell on his knees with sweat on his forehead, his hands were shaking violently. He still could not understand why he lost!
As if he could see through his thinking, Baili Jia Jue extended his hand to grab his collar and pulled him up. He said with a low voice which could only be heard by the two of them, "Do you really think that the doors of the palace are so easy to open?"
"You... You!"
How did he know!
No!
If he knew that earlier, why did he overlook them deliberately and let them attack the palace?
"Why! Why on earth is this!" He could have just stopped them from the beginning!
Baili Jia Jue lifted his thin lips and smiled, "Why? You have involved so many eminent monks to take away my most beloved prey. Just to let you lose, would be too small a lesson and it would not be enough. Also, the Emperor..."
"The Emperor? What does this have to do with the Emperor?" Elder Wu was getting even more confused. He did not understand, what benefits would the person in front of him get if the matter became serious?
Baili Jia Jue raised his cool gaze. "Nothing much. I just wanted to teach this so-called Emperor a lesson. Do you really thought that you could attack the palace by your own ability?"
"You, the person that you're actually against is actually...actually...!" Elder Wu's eyes widened but he felt a tremor in his chest before he could finish his sentence. He coughed out blood from his extreme anger!
How could he accept that!
Everything carefully planned by him was just a chess piece played by the other party!
"I have to thank Elder Wu for that." His Highness had always been a malevolent man who could make others die of anger without any guilt. He lifted his thin lips. "If it's not for the trouble caused by Elder Wu, I will need to consider the rules and reputation in order to teach my father a lesson. Although I have never cared about how the world thinks of me, there is still someone who cares. I don't want to be a demon with blood-stained hands in her eyes. It's better this way. With the cooperation of Elder Wu, the people who should be taught will be taught, and the people who should be killed will be slaughtered into pieces. But Elder Wu, I have to tell you that I have never seen a person as st*pid as you for a long time."
"You! You! " Elder Wu pointed to Baili Jia Jue with trembling fingers, looking like he was about to die of a heart attack.
Baili Jia Jue straightened his posture, his voice was as noble and sharp as a blade, "Take him away."
The three simple words had a commanding momentum that could shake the world.
"Yes, Tour Highness," said the shadow guards.
Elder Zhan who had been watching for a long time shivered and finally regained his composure after witnessing his associate being dragged down with his bare eyes. He could not utter a word because of the strong fear in his heart.
Elder Zhan was thankful that he only agreed with Elder Wu's suggestion but he did not really participate in it.
Imagine the consequences if he got himself involved...
Elder Zhan did not dare to think about it anymore, hence he shut his eyes. He only wanted to hide in the crowd.
However, his fingers paused when Baili Jia Jue walked toward him and stopped before him. He was unsure whether it was an intentional move.
At that moment, Elder Zhan's scalp turned numb!
Baili Jia Jue made an evil smile and walked passed him.
Elder Zhan thought to himself. Is His Highness trying to scare him on purpose just now! Ah?! Please don't trick me like that!
Helian Wei Wei turned sideways, curiosity was seen on her pretty face. "What did you say to Elder Wu to make him so angry?"
"Nothing much." Baili Jia Jue took her and placed her beside him. "I was kind enough to give him some tips on he should play chess."
Helian Wei Wei raised a brow. "Is this the time to teach him how to play chess?"
"He asked me." Baili Jia Jue made an innocent expression.
Elder Wu had such a refined interest? Helian Wei Wei was very suspicious, but the matter was finally solved. She would not need to use the thing in her hand anymore. She gave the sniper gun to Little Seven who was munching on a bean bun.
The little one picked it up casually, turned around and aimed the sniper at Nangong Lie who took away his bean bun.
Nangong Lie's evil smile froze and he jumped up immediately. "Hey! Little Seven, what are you doing! You can't just aim at anyone with that thing! F*ck! Are you for real? Ah Jue, Ah Jue, stop him quickly! Stop this food maniac!"
No one was able to prevent the Little Seventh Prince's entertainment of chasing Nangong Lie with the long gun. The little one was especially cruel in starting fights, not even a group of eunuchs behind him would be able to stop him.
It was a fact that the Little Seventh Prince only listened to the Third Prince since ancient times...
"Little Seven, watch out. Don't damage the palace." Baili Jia Jue's faint voice was heard.
Upon hearing that, Nangong Lie shouted, "Ah Jue, are you kidding right now? He's going to destroy me, not the palace! Your future children will definitely be wild kids if you educate them like that!"
Baili Jia Jue raised his eyes as he heard that. "Little Seven..."
"He took the bean bun that Third Aunt made for me." The little one stopped his action. He twisted his little body, curled his little mouth, and complained about it with his cheeks bulged.
Baili Jia Jue looked at Nangong Lie and said, "Take your time but don't beat him to death. Spare his life so that he can pay for your bean bun."
"Okay!" The little one nodded seriously before he turned and continued to fight!
It was a funny scene to watch. Helian Wei Wei spectated it with interest from the side.
Seeing that the crisis in the Chaoyang Palace was all over, Baili Jia Jue took several shadow guards with him to interrogate Elder Wu himself. He was curious to know who was behind the plot.
Right after he left, Elder Ming who was hidden in a dark corner extended his scarlet tongue and licked his thin lips...
Helian Wei Wei turned and looked behind her.
Whitey raised its brow. "Wei Wei, what's the matter?"
"Nothing." Although Helian Wei Wei said so, she was twice as alert as usual when she was walking back to her royal chamber.
As the chanting of the eminent monks stopped a long time ago, the whole palace was unusually quiet when Helian Wei Wei walked out of the Chaoyang Hall.
Helian Wei Wei's pace became slow. Although there were not many guards in the path that she was walking, there were usually many palace maids and eunuchs. Why are there so few people here today?
Is it because of the coup initiated by Elder Wu?
That can't be it!
Something feels off.
When Helian Wei Wei wanted to stop walking, a row of palace maids appeared in front of her all of a sudden. They walked in a strange way without showing their usual respect toward her. They seemed to be a little sluggish and they were walking very slowly. They looked like a row of puppets led by someone, giving out an eerie feeling.
Helian Wei Wei squinted her eyes and reached for the dagger on her waist with her fingers consciously.
The palace maids walked over slowly without even slanting their heads. All of them were dripping wet as if they were just picked out of the water.
They hung their heads one by one, with their hair scattered. They did not bow although they saw Helian Wei Wei, they were acting as if she was not in front of them.
Helian Wei Wei could not pretend like they did not exist because it was too creepy.
Clunk!
A noise came to her ear.
Helian Wei Wei looked toward the direction of the noise and saw that the palace maids' feet were bound with iron chains that were not visible from afar. The chains were black in color, making her uneasy when she saw them.
It turned out that the reason why they were lining up in a row was because of the iron chain between them.
When did the palace have such a punishment?
Also, why are there not any eunuchs around to lead them in getting their punishment?
The frown on Helian Wei Wei's face got tighter the more Helian Wei Wei thought about it. She wanted to move closer to have a clearer view but dizziness hit her all of a sudden, followed by vertigo...
A fair-skinned hand reached out and caught her limping body. The person's white sleeve smelled of medicine. He smiled gently and looked at Helian Wei Wei's face with tenderness, "You are indeed vigilant, I have to do it myself."
"Master, I..." Elder Ming lost his stance in front of others. He went down with both his hands on the ground and looked at the man in front of him with his scarlet eyes.
The man was wearing a white robe and his face looked porcelain white from sideways, he looked like an exotic species in the world. However, his voice had hints of coughing when he spoke as he had been afflicted with pain and sickness since he was a child, "I don't blame you. She has been quite capable all this time. If it is not for the coup, it would be difficult to approach her even for me. Now, we only need to wait until midnight."
"Yes, master." Elder Ming looked down with respect...
Deep asleep, Helian Wei Wei's consciousness was still staying in the previous scene. She took her steps in a trance...
"Stop moving forward!" Yuan Ming's voice which came from Fantasy Space was filled with panic.
Helian Wei Wei's sight shook as if she sobered up, "Yuan Xiaoming, why are you so agitated?"
"I'm agitated?" Yuan Ming's eyes were heavy, "Look at what's in front of you!"
Helian Wei Wei looked forward as she heard that. Even though she always maintained her cool, she was still shocked by the sight in front of her!
It was a dark river.
Beneath the river was not aquatic grass but corpses.
It was pitch black around her. She could not see anything except for a faint light.
Ahead of her was an endless jimsonweed field which was crimson and mesmerizing when it was swept by the breeze, whooshing noises could be faintly heard.
There was seductive beauty in it.
This red plant could not be seen everywhere.
The jimsonweed had spread to the whole riverside.
Helian Wei Wei raised her brow, turned around and saw a tombstone. There was one word engraved on it. The word was scrawly but vicious, 'Underworld'.
The Underworld?
"What's going on?" Even though she did not receive much education, she knew about the Underworld. Isn't this hell where ghosts gather like in the legends? Why am I here?
Yuan Ming's eyes sank. "Someone set up a barrier in the imperial palace and brought you here using resentments in the palace. The palace maids you saw just now are those who died in the imperial palace and they were used to guide you the way. It turns out that the other party wasn't planning to use the eminent monks to take your soul. They wanted to achieve the means of changing souls through the Underworld instead. The Soul Drawing Incantation is just the beginning. This is really a high-skilled trick. He took the advantage and acted when everyone was placing their attention on the coup..."
"Stop talking so much. How can we get out of here?" Helian Wei Wei pulled the iron chain beside her and regained her usual alertness. "You should be able to go out if you can enter here. With your abilities as a messenger of the demon, this shouldn't be a problem for you."
Yuan Ming's tone faded, "Indeed, it should not be a problem for me. But we should make sure that there is no other movement from that person. According to my guess, I think he used the Soul Attracting Seven Stars Formation. This would require him to wait until midnight to completely change your soul. We still have time. However, based on the current situation, the chances of success are still very slight."
"Why?" Helian Wei Wei was focused.
There was bloodthirst on Yuan Ming's face. "Not everyone knew how to use the Soul Attracting Seven Stars. According to what I know, this formation was lost a hundred years ago. Now that it reappears in this world, that person must be one of the best in exorcism. Such a person will not allow himself to be found out if he has set up the formation. If no one put out his Soul Changing Lamp, you will still not be able to return to your flesh body even if we are able to get out of here safely..."
Helian Wei Wei's fingers stiffened upon hearing that.
She had a premonition that she would leave her body shell one day.
Helian Wei Wei already felt uneasy when she was asked to return her body repeatedly in the dream.
However, she never thought that the day would come so soon.
She just promised Baili Jia Jue to accompany him for a drink not long ago.
She did not expect to be in hell in such a short time...
Helian Wei Wei looked around, her voice was firm and cool, "Anyway, let's get out of here first."
She never liked to stand somebody up. Also, she would never want to see that person getting disappointed because he had a very strong personality.
Living in darkness, he never portrayed many expressions and he was always scheming. He always put on an elegant yet evil smile even when he was angry, which made people think that he was indestructible.
But Helian Wei Wei knew that he would get upset too.
He would smile forcefully whenever he was unhappy as he did today when he was suspected of murder by his own father in the Great Hall...
Therefore, she must get out of here no matter what!
"Wei Wei, remember that you must not drink the soup if someone asks you to. Just turn around if you went in the wrong direction, and stay low." Yuan Ming lowered his voice and said, "The most important thing is not to let anyone find out that you are a living spirit."
Helian Wei Wei nodded and walked sideways through a door. What she then saw were the ox-headed and horse-faced demons leading a group of people while walking toward the arch bridge.
The bridge was made of stones. It looked very ordinary, yet there was unusual darkness compared to what was expected in the human world.
Everyone walking on the bridge was wearing long robes. They had no chains on their limbs, and they had no expression on their faces. They looked like wandering ghosts without any emotions.
There was an old woman with arched back holding a bowl in her hands near the entrance of the bridge. Her face was not visible and she was handing out bowls of soup.
"It's Grandma Meng." Yuan Ming lowered its gaze. "Don't go there. They will ask you to drink the soup and cross the bridge if they see you. You can never go back once you cross the bridge and enter the reincarnation path. You must avoid their sight from now on and go to your right. There should be a trial hall and there will be an exit to the human world at the first level."
Helian Wei Wei followed Yuan Ming's advice and tried to hide in the darkness, which was an easy task for her because the dead souls in hell were all staring forward and they did not move their sight at all. This gave Helian Wei Wei a good chance to hide from them.
The real challenge was the ox-headed and horse-faced demons as their eyes have never been idle from the beginning. Both their eyes were flickering with demonic redness. They did not forget to chatter away while they scanned around. Helian Wei Wei did not understand what they were talking about.
"They are speaking in ghost language." Yuan Ming listened carefully. "The man who wants to take your soul used the formation to blur out the boundary between the Underworld and the human world. He caused their workload to increase a lot."
"It's not that simple, they seem to be really irritated," Helian Wei Wei said as she took a glance.
"Well, aside from blurring the boundaries, it seems like that man intended to open the main gates of hell and release all the evil spirits from the eighteen layers of hell." Yuan Ming chuckled evilly, "It's a bold and interesting idea. What's more, he will need your help in it."
Helian Wei Wei said while raising her eyebrow, "My help?"
"The Exorcism Seal which was placed in the Divine Mainland previously can only be removed by the blood of an exorcist's successor, which is your blood." Yuan Ming's expression was still evil when it was talking, "Don't underestimate your blood. You can even open the gates of hell if you use it well."
Helian Wei Wei narrowed her eyes, "My will tells me that I don't want to walk around here and meet ghosts."
"Clearly, your own will doesn't matter." Yuan Ming drifted two steps forward, almost knocking into the ox-headed demon who was escorting a soul.
Fortunately, Helian Wei Wei was fast enough to drag it back!
The ox-headed demon was not easy to bluff. It turned around and looked at the dark side of the cave.
Helian Wei Wei and Yuan Ming held their breaths while hiding in the dark.
The ox-headed demon's strange big eyes twirled as it approached them slowly...
"What's the matter?" The horse-faced demon standing next to it reached out and stopped it.
The ox-headed demon did not speak, it drew out its knife and stabbed toward Helian Wei Wei's direction, without any result. It then replied, "Nothing, I thought someone came in."
"Who would have the guts to enter the Underworld?" The horse-faced demon laughed disapprovingly.
The ox-headed demon licked its lips. "If someone enters, he will be our dinner."
"Stop dreaming, just continue with your work. The king of hell's son is full of anger today. Neither of us will have a good meal if you don't send these ghosts back to their original positions." The horse-faced demon dragged the chains and left after dropping this sentence.
The ox-headed demon was still hesitating, hence it turned around in a circle in the dark before it left.
Then, Helian Wei Wei walked out and recovered her normal breathing.
According to Yuan Ming, the ox-headed and horse-faced demons had no effect on humans, but souls would follow them automatically and involuntarily once they locked eyes.
This was also the reason why the ox-headed and horse-faced demons were responsible for drawing souls in the human world when humans were about to die.
She finally passed this stage without any danger.
Walking to the far right, the bridge was not visible anymore and her sight was getting clearer. There were fire torches everywhere on the stone walls, casting shadows that floated on the ground.
"That's the first trial hall, but it's difficult to get past it." Yuan Ming's voice was blanketed, perhaps because they were in hell.
Helian Wei Wei leaned against a wall stealthily and poked out her head. She stared at a huge creature not far away from her.
The huge creature looked like a large-sized dog with a very fierce look from afar, it looked like a Tibetan Mastiff breed.
Helian Wei Wei always liked dogs, but she just could not make herself like this one.
It had two heads. Each of them looked odd while exposing its fangs.
They had magma-like red eyes and hair as thick as tides. There was also a pungent smell similar to sulfuric acid.
"Is this the legendary hellhound?" Helian Wei Wei narrowed her eyes.
Yuan Ming looked back and asked with astonishment, "How do you know that?"
"It's written in the books, it is said to be the watchmen of hell. It appears at night with the purpose of nibbling on bodies that were freshly buried into the earth. The living will die inexplicably the next day if they see it with their own eyes." Helian Wei Wei quirked up the corners of her mouth, "I did not expect that this creature actually exists..."