Front Hall
A soul clad in pure black attire stepped in as if floating, treading upon the silent dust.
He lowered his head slightly, his eyes dark as the color of a black bow, his features sharply defined as if carved by a blade, and his lips coldly spoke: “Your Highness, the tasks you assigned have all been completed by Hei Chang.”
Before the Hall Table
Yan Yi raised his eyes and nodded lightly in acknowledgment. “Mm, you’ve worked hard. How are things at the Demon Hall?”
“Prince Yuheng has dispatched various Immortal Lords to carry out the Heavenly Thunder Tribulation on the son of the Demon Monarch who violated the laws of heaven. Currently, the Devil race’s hatred toward the Celestial Clan has likely deepened by another degree.”
“No need to concern ourselves with that. How is the investigation into Weng Ze’s affairs progressing?”
“Elder Weng Ze has sent word that no cultivation methods have been found for now, but there have been some unusual discoveries.”
“Oh? What are they?” Yan Yi was clearly drawn by these words, lifting his gaze to look over.
Hei Chang shook his head. “Elder Weng Ze intends to conduct further investigation and will report to Your Highness once certain.”
“No matter. I have waited this long already. Relay my message: he must search meticulously for me. Whether it be an Immortal Artifact or a Medicine Pill, as soon as there is any news, bring it back immediately!”
“Yes, Hei Chang understands.”
The moment his words fell, the voice of a Ghost Servant sounded from outside the hall.
Following the Ghost Servant’s voice, Hei Chang’s figure vanished swiftly from the hall like a wisp of black mist.
“Your Highness, Madam Meng has arrived.”
“Let her in.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
A woman in a bewitching red gauze dress, holding a fan, stepped through the door with a light and graceful posture.
Her delicate, fair face was adorned with a vibrant peach-blossom makeup, her powder exuding a full rosy glow, and her red lips were seductive and alluring. “Your Highness—”
The man’s jet-black pupil eyes swept over coldly. With just one glance, he made her retract her smile, adopting an attitude of utmost respect. “Y-Your Highness, what are your orders?”
“Have the souls you’ve been receiving lately not been particularly numerous?”
“W-what do you mean by that?” Meng Po’s voice trembled as she hurriedly explained, “Meng Po… these past days, rising early and retiring late, working tirelessly from dawn till dusk—even if there’s no merit, there’s still toil.”
“Speaking ghostly nonsense!”
“Uh…” She was taken aback, inwardly amused but maintaining a humble tone. “In all this time, Meng Po has never slacked off, diligently receiving every guest of Reincarnation. I wonder from where Your Highness heard such rumors, damaging Meng Po’s reputation?”
“What need is there for rumors?” His expression turned cold and oppressive as he pressed closer. “The words from Yuan’er’s mouth—did you teach her those?”
“I… Meng Po did not.”
“She admitted it herself.”
“I…” Meng Po scratched her dark, silky hair in distress, inwardly grumbling: Bad choice of friends, bad choice of friends!
“Well? Still going to refute it?”
“No, no, no, Meng Po wouldn’t dare. It’s just that… Meng Po told Little Highness some amusing stories, and she remembered a few, that’s all.”
“Remembered? Hah. Don’t teach her such baseless things again.”
“Yes, yes, yes…”
“Not a single serious task accomplished, yet you’ve done a heap of these illusory things.”
Meng Po lowered her head under the reprimand, quietly listening while nodding incessantly. “Yes, yes, yes…”
“This lord does not wish for you all to corrupt her.”
“Yes, yes, yes…”
“In the future, if there is no important matter, you are not to set foot in the rear hall.”
“Yes, yes, yes…”
…
“Madam Meng?”
“Yes, yes, yes…”
“Madam Meng?”
“Yes, yes… huh?”
A Ghost Servant walked in and whispered in confusion, “What are you doing? The guests for Reincarnation have arrived. Please go and take a look.”
“Huh? But His Highness—” She pointed to the main seat in front of her, about to say something.
The next second,
Meng Po’s body stiffened.
There was no one left on the seat.
The lofty and unattainable King Yama, who had been sitting upright just moments ago, had disappeared without a trace.
Truly living up to the saying: arriving without a shadow, departing without a trace.
Meng Po snorted coldly and turned to walk out.
…
In the pitch-black Hell, souls came and went in waves—one batch arriving, another about to be sent off.
At the Naihe Bridge,
Meng Po kept an eye on the little ghosts working below while serving the Meng Po Soup to the guests arriving for Reincarnation, helping them forget their current lives.
Suddenly, from within the crowd, a pregnant woman screamed and ran outward, “I don’t want to be reincarnated! I don’t want to forget him! I don’t! I want to go back!!”
Her words exploded like fireworks in the ears of the crowd.
Instantly,
Everyone began shouting, “No to Reincarnation! No to Reincarnation!”
“We want to go back! Our families have children waiting for us! We can’t die! We can’t!”
“I can’t die either! I still need to see my parents one last time!”
“Let us go back! We can’t die!”
“I was killed by someone else! I want revenge! Revenge! I can’t die!”
…
Meng Po curled her crimson lips and sneered coldly, “I am here to guide you through Reincarnation, not to judge your cases or right your wrongs.”
“You will drink this Meng Po Soup whether you want to or not. I don’t have the patience to wait for you.”
“Guards, pour it down their throats one by one and send them off to Reincarnation!”
“Yes—”
Not far away,
A woman in a white gauze dress, her face pale as snow, leaned against the railing and smiled, “Madam Meng is quite imposing.”
Meng Po turned her gaze and exclaimed in surprise, “Bai Chang? What are you doing here?”
The woman descended the steps, waving her delicate hand lightly, “Don’t even ask. My brother was summoned back by King Yama, so naturally, I followed.”
“Who would’ve thought that as soon as I returned, I’d see Su Qin’s annoying face.”
Life outside was so carefree—no one to manage or question her, free to do as she pleased and go wherever she wanted. Occasionally, when she encountered a few disobedient or unruly evil ghosts, she could simply whip them—how satisfying!
But then that old thing Weng Ze sent word, forcing my brother to return and report his findings to King Yama. As a result, I had to abandon my plans for wild adventures and obediently come back.
Coming back was one thing, but then I had to see Su Qin’s affected and pretentious demeanor, which instantly made me even more irritable.
“Su Qin?” Meng Po frowned slightly, “Isn’t she down below? What is she doing up here?”
Bai Chang quickly nodded in agreement, “Exactly! She’s only in charge of the souls from the Sixth to Eighth Layers. What is she doing here with us? Hah, could it be for King Yama again?”
Throughout the entire Ghost Realm, who doesn’t know about Su Qin’s ambition to rise in status?
Tsk tsk, it’s fortunate that the Little Highness has lost her mother, otherwise seeing that detestable face every day would surely be enough to drive one to an early grave.
“No need to worry about so much. Whatever she wants to do, it’s not our place to comment.”
“That’s true. I’ve just returned, why should I bring trouble upon myself? I’d better go see the Little Highness instead.”
Bai Chang turned and left, her light steps unable to conceal her delight. But she had only taken a few steps when she was suddenly called back.
“Wait.”
“What is it?” she asked, turning around in confusion.
Meng Po shook her head, her eyes filled with irritation. “King Yama’s Palace just reprimanded me. It’s best not to go to the rear hall for now.”
“Why?” Bai Chang walked back, her fair and noble face now clouded with anger. “I’ve brought back the Little Highness’s favorite Magical Instrument. Why did King Yama’s Palace reprimand you and forbid you from going to the rear hall?”
“Perhaps the Little Highness said something in front of Your Highness that displeased him, so he’s taking it out on others. It’s better for the two of us to keep a low profile for now.”
“But why? I haven’t even seen her once yet.”
Meng Po said sternly, “Enough. There will be time to meet her eventually. There’s no need to rush.”
Bai Chang pouted, her eyes filled with arrogance as she snorted coldly. “I wonder who’s been gossiping in front of King Yama’s Palace again. If I find out, I’ll tear their mouth to shreds.”
“Go back for now. I still have guests for Reincarnation here. I’ll come find you when I have time.”
Bai Chang nodded. “Alright, but you must come find me. Not being able to see the Little Highness already makes me feel terrible.”
“Yes, go on.”
“Fine, I’ll go find my brother.”