“Rise, all of you.”
Zhong Kui stroked his beard and waved his hand, his gaze turning toward the hall.
“My dear brother, it’s been many days since we last met—I’ve missed you terribly.”
The King of Hell beamed with joy as he stepped forward and firmly grasped Zhong Kui’s hand. Turning his head, he instructed the underworld messengers below: “All of you, withdraw for now. Your True Lord and I wish to catch up in private.”
“Yes, Your Majesty!”
Before long, the vast Hall of Yama was left with only the two of them facing each other.
With a casual wave of his hand, the King of Hell conjured a rosewood wine table and personally poured a cup of fine wine for Zhong Kui.
“Brother, this is… Biyan Wine! Why bring out such a rare vintage today?”
Zhong Kui’s face showed surprise.
Even in the underworld, this Biyan Wine was exceptionally difficult to come by.
The King of Hell laughed heartily. “What a thing to say, dear brother! You and I have known each other for centuries now—a mere cup of Biyan Wine is hardly worth mentioning. Come, let me toast you!”
“Thank you for your kindness, brother!”
They raised their cups, clinked them together, and downed the wine in one go.
“Speaking of which, back in those days when you were wrongfully killed by an evil spirit and arrived in the underworld, I was the one who personally presided over your case.” The King of Hell suddenly grew nostalgic, reflecting on the past: “You and I truly embody that old saying—’No clash, no acquaintance.'”
Zhong Kui looked somewhat embarrassed at these words. “I was rash back then, brother. I stormed through the underworld, and when I raised my Demon-Subduing Pestle, I accidentally struck the Heavenly Bell, startling you.”
“Ah, but it was precisely that strike that alarmed the Heavenly Court and reached the ears of the Jade Emperor.” The King of Hell raised his sleeve and clasped his hands toward the heavens: “Upon learning of this, the Jade Emperor, moved by your chivalrous spirit, specially bestowed upon you the title of [Demon-Quelling True Lord]. That was a tremendous blessing!”
Recalling the past, Zhong Kui couldn’t help but stroke his beard and smile. “All thanks to the Jade Emperor’s grace. Were it not for that, given my reckless behavior back then, I would likely have been cast into the Eighteenth Layer of Hell, suffering the torment of whips and tongue-ripping.”
With that, he changed the subject: “Brother, since you’ve invited me here today, I assume there’s an important matter you wish to entrust to me? Please, speak freely.”
The King of Hell’s smile faltered slightly, a hint of awkwardness showing. “Brother, take a look at this first.”
He transformed the case of the Jiangdu Corpse-Immortal into a document and handed it to Zhong Kui.
As Zhong Kui unrolled the scroll and read through it carefully, his anger grew with each line: “Mortals truly never learn! Every so often, someone dares to practice heretical arts, attempting to become a Ghost Immortal—all just to preserve their consciousness and extend their lifespan.”
The King of Hell nodded with a cold sneer: “The longest a mortal can live is no more than two hundred and thirty years, and for most, it’s merely seventy or eighty. To live past a hundred and sixty already requires profound cultivation. Yet there are always those with crooked hearts who, desperate to cling to life, try to steal the secrets of heaven with wicked methods. The worst evil, dear brother, lies in the human heart!”
Zhong Kui slammed his wine cup down heavily: “Now that you’ve laid it all out, brother, I understand. Rest assured, I will investigate the cause and give you an answer within days.”
“Wait, brother, this matter is not so simple.” The King of Hell quickly stopped him.
“Oh? Is there something more to it?”
“Indeed. Traces of the Corpse-Immortal have appeared both inside and outside Jiangdu city at the same time. I suspect the mastermind behind all this is one and the same person.
However, what infuriates me most is that this fiend, in practicing the Five Prisons Ascension Method, has shown no mercy—even the souls of the dead have been utterly obliterated.”
“What? Even the dead souls weren’t spared?!” Zhong Kui was visibly shaken. “This fiend has truly fallen into the demonic path!”
The King of Hell sighed deeply: “Precisely for this reason, this case is especially difficult. I do not wish to trouble the Supreme One, nor do I want to call upon the True Lord Ksitigarbha. If I rashly dispatch a large force of netherworld soldiers, I fear it will alert the enemy. And to make matters worse, the City God of Jiangdu has recently stirred up trouble of his own…”
“I’ve heard a bit about this.” Zhong Kui was clearly aware of the matter regarding the prefectural City God who had been executed by the [Plague Department]. He lowered his voice and asked: “I’ve heard that you recently took in a foster son in the mortal world, brother—one with quite the extraordinary background?”
“You jest, dear brother. He’s not a foster son yet; I’m still considering him.”
The King of Hell adjusted his sleeves and spoke seriously: “Let me lay out the full plan for you.
The execution of that prefectural City God has much to do with this young man.
He is now the Guardian God of the [Plague Department]—the Plague-Bearing Young Lord.
At the same time, he holds a netherworld post—the Mighty and Righteous General.
It was he who reported this matter to me.
But after much thought, I realized the best way to resolve this case requires the assistance of the local City God.
However, the City God and he do not see eye to eye.
I fear that this young man might meet with some mishap, so I hope you, brother, will make the journey on my behalf and escort him to City God Street.”
“I see.” Zhong Kui nodded: “Though my powers are not what they used to be, handling a single prefectural City God is still well within my ability.”
“Then I thank you, brother!” The King of Hell clasped his hands in deep gratitude.
Zhong Kui waved his hand dismissively and said seriously: “To expel demons and subdue evil is my sworn duty. Now that Jiangdu faces such a calamity, how could I possibly refuse!”
“Excellent! Let me toast you once more, brother!”
They raised their cups and drank together.
Seeing that the time was right, the King of Hell offered a sweetener: “Of course, I won’t have you work for nothing, brother.
You may not know this, but my ‘would-be foster son’ is already making preparations to build a temple of his own.
After this matter is settled, I can ask him to set aside another divine seat for you.
By then, the netherworld incense offerings of that temple—I am willing to share them with you, brother!”
“Oh?” Though Zhong Kui’s expression remained unchanged, a sudden wave of emotion stirred within him!
Holding two major divine posts and establishing a temple of his own.
And able to spare a seat for him on top of that.
“It seems your foster son is indeed no ordinary man, brother.”
Zhong Kui looked somewhat hesitant: “Is that… appropriate, brother?!”
“Perfectly appropriate! To be honest, I initially planned to keep all the temple’s incense offerings for myself, but after much thought, it didn’t feel right.
Now I can offer this favor to you instead. I hope you won’t take offense, brother.”
As the King of Hell spoke, he shifted the conversation and grew sentimental once more: “Speaking of this, I can’t help but sigh.
Think back, in those days, when it came to underworld incense offerings—if you ranked second, brother, who could possibly rank first?
The name ‘Guardian Saint of the Household’ was known throughout the land!
Nearly every home hung a portrait of Zhong Kui to ward off evil and protect the household.
But then, the Heavenly Court suddenly issued a decree: all deities must be enshrined in temples, and private worship of deities was forbidden. The people were forced to take down your portraits, and your incense offerings plummeted…
Now, centuries have passed. I wonder how many people in this world still remember your mighty name, brother.
My heart aches for you.”
Zhong Kui, however, was magnanimous: “Brother, there’s no need for such sorrow. The establishment of temples is a heavenly mandate—an inevitable trend. How could we mere beings hope to change it? The way things are now suits me just fine. It leaves me free and untroubled.”
Free and untroubled?
The King of Hell didn’t say it aloud, but He didn’t believe it for a moment.
If He had ever experienced that level of incense offerings.
And then watched them dwindle to almost nothing.
There was no way He could remain at peace.
The contrast… was simply too immense!
“Enough, let’s not dwell on that now. I’ll trouble you to make this journey, brother.”
The King of Hell rose and bowed, then called out loudly: “Fan Rusong! Xie Qingyi!”
“Your subordinates are here!”
With a flash of green light, the two women knelt on one knee.
“I have already come to an agreement with the True Lord. He will escort Lu Chen to his destination. The two of you will lead the way—do not delay.”
Xie and Fan exchanged glances, barely able to conceal their joy: “Thank you, Great King! Thank you, True Lord!”
“Very well, lead the way!”
“True Lord, this way please!”
With that, Zhong Kui transformed into a blazing crimson cloud, accompanied by hearty laughter, and flew out of the Hall of Yama.
…
Meanwhile, at the Southern Suburb Industrial Park, inside the CEO’s office.
Lu Chen flipped through the documents in his hands, barely hiding his surprise: “Wait, Manager Zeng, I was only out for a few hours, and you’ve already prepared such a detailed plan?”
Across from him, Zeng Rou smiled sweetly: “You flatter me, President Lu. To be honest, I’ve been drafting this idea since last night—after all, you’ve already pointed us in the right direction. As for the list of branch locations on here, we can thank Rakshasa’s previous activities across various regions. We’ve conducted background research on many commercially developed areas.
Now that the company is looking to expand outward.
It just so happens we can make use of that collected data.”
Lu Chen couldn’t help but draw a sharp breath: “No wonder even Yu Feng praised your expertise in sect affairs—you truly are a capable officer!”
“You’re too kind, President Lu.” Zeng Rou gently tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and smiled modestly.
“Let’s proceed with your plan, then. From now on, I’ll have to trouble you with the company’s affairs. I’m afraid I’ll be stretched too thin to handle everything myself.”
“Understood, President Lu. I will do my utmost.” Zeng Rou replied solemnly.
Lu Chen was about to give further instructions when the Yama Token on the back of his hand flashed red.
“Go ahead and get to work.”
“Yes, sir. I’ll take my leave now.”
Zeng Rou rose and left, closing the door behind her.
The moment the door clicked shut, several figures suddenly appeared in the office.
Xie Qingyi and Fan Rusong materialized silently.
But to Lu Chen’s surprise, beside them stood a burly man with a bristling beard, clad in a billowing red robe—majestic and awe-inspiring.
“And this is…?” Lu Chen’s pupils contracted slightly; the man looked strangely familiar.
The burly man was also carefully sizing him up, his gaze sharp as lightning.
“Hmm, indeed a fine figure—dignified and extraordinary, not one to remain confined to the shallows.”
After a sincere compliment, the man clasped his fists in salute: “I am Zhong Kui. Greetings to you!”
“What!? You… no, You are… You are Zhong Kui!?”
“Indeed I am!”
