Death Knocks on Hell’s Door Chapter 18

Chapter 18 Mazu

The battle overhead was fierce and chaotic, sending massive waves that churned the entire sea. The ship rocked violently, throwing people to the ground, their bodies helplessly sliding across the deck as they tried to maintain balance.

It was truly a case of “when gods fight, mortals suffer.”

Xie Bian and Fan Wujiu were the only two who remained steady on their feet. Without exchanging a word, they simultaneously began to cast their spells. Xie Bian set up a protective barrier around the entire cruise ship, blocking the impact of the waves. Fan Wujiu called upon his divine power to steer the ship off course, guiding it toward a safer area to avoid further damage.

The actual battle on the sea was still far from them. What they were experiencing were only the residual waves. The divine power of the sea gods had not yet reached this area, or else Xie Bian would have had trouble withstanding it. But judging by the force of these waves, it was easy to imagine just how grand and intense the battle must be.

With the assistance of the Black and White Impermanence, the ship gradually began to stabilize. The passengers, still shaken, asked, “Has the storm passed?”

“Not yet, but it seems to have moved farther away from us……”

“Thank the heavens. It must be the protection of Mazu!”

The Black and White Impermanence remained silent. The storm had been caused by the battle between Mazu and an intruder.

For the moment, the mortals were safe, but Xie Bian and Fan Wujiu could not simply stand by and do nothing.

From what Mazu had said earlier, it seemed that a Western god had intruded into the Eastern seas. Although the underworld and the sea were separate realms, when it came to defending against foreign invaders and protecting their territory, every god had a responsibility. Since they had encountered the situation, they felt it was their duty to assist.

Xie Bian and Fan Wujiu found a secluded spot, transforming into their ghostly forms before flying toward the distant sea, getting closer to the battlefield.

Now, the scene became much clearer.

Dark clouds loomed over the sea, fierce winds howled, and towering waves surged.

Mazu, draped in a rosy robe and holding a jade tablet, stood poised and dignified, exuding an air of noble elegance. She gently traced the jade tablet with her fingers, and the waters around her obeyed her command. Within a radius of several miles, the sea churned into towering waves, surging forward with immense force toward her adversary.

On the opposite side, standing atop the massive waves, was a foreign god.

He was strikingly handsome, with deep-set eyes and a trident in hand. His seaweed-like blue hair cascaded over his shoulders, and his eyes, as blue as the deep sea, sparkled like stars, seemingly capable of captivating all things.

Unfortunately, in Mazu’s eyes, all she saw was the detestable face of an invader.

This was Poseidon, one of the twelve major Olympian gods, the Greek God of Sea, the older brother of the King of the Gods, Zeus. Ruling over all the seas and rivers of Greece and its surrounding areas, he was a deity of immense power and lofty status.

Mazu, on the other hand, was a protective goddess of the southeastern coast of China. Known for her gentle nature and kindness, her role was more about safeguarding than waging battle. If the ancient gods of seas, such as Yu Guo of the East, Hu Yu of the South, or even Yan Zi of the West, had been guarding this place, none of them would have tolerated a foreign sea god disturbing their domain.

However, even though Mazu was mild-tempered by nature, she would not retreat a single step in this moment, especially with the advantage of her home ground.

Despite Poseidon’s might, Meizhou Bay was Mazu’s domain. The waters here would not behave like those of the Mediterranean, where Poseidon could draw on them at will. Both gods had the power to control the waters, but here in Meizhou Bay, the sea refused to obey Poseidon’s command. He could only defend, not attack. After several exchanges, Poseidon had already begun to show signs of weakness. It was only a matter of time before Mazu defeated him.

Xie Bian and Fan Wujiu saw that the situation no longer seemed to require their intervention. They remained in the clouds, quietly observing, ready to step in should anything unexpected arise.

Poseidon also realized that if this dragged on, he would inevitably be defeated. Calmly, he swung his trident, cleaving through the towering waves. His voice was deep as he spoke, “I did not intend to invade your nation’s waters, I was merely passing through.”

His Chinese was impeccable. A god of his status, no matter the pantheon, was a leader. Knowing several diplomatic languages was a necessary skill.

Mazu remained unmoved. “Please show your permit.”

Poseidon: “……”

Gods could indeed travel to foreign lands, but they, too, needed to go through the proper channels, much like humans applying for a visa. Otherwise, it would be considered illegal entry, and if caught, there would be consequences. In the West, the zodiac signs served as the visa officers, while in the East, it was the 28 constellations. The process could be cumbersome and usually took several days. Venus had fled in a hurry, but fortunately, she had connections with Pisces and was able to use back doors to expedite his visa, even managing to conceal his whereabouts. Poseidon, eager to find him, rushed over as soon as he got the news. He chose the sea route for greater speed, unwilling to wait and go through the visa procedures.

He had intended to find Venus and return home without lingering, but he had not expected to be discovered by the Eastern sea goddess Mazu in Meizhou Bay, leading to this fierce confrontation.

Seeing Poseidon remain silent, Mazu’s voice grew colder. “Without a permit, I’m afraid this passage cannot be granted. Please return, Your Majesty the King of the Sea.”

At this point, Poseidon could not press further without intentionally escalating the situation into a battle between the two pantheons. As the King of the Sea, he was not like ordinary gods. His position could represent the stance of an entire pantheon.

Poseidon gazed at the Eastern lands in the distance, his eyes filled with meaning, before turning and disappearing beneath the surface of the sea.

Poseidon was not one to shy away from conflict. By nature, he relished battle and feared no war. But his visit to the East was for personal matters, so he could not afford to provoke a dispute. He could not allow Venus’ already tarnished reputation in Olympus to suffer further damage, adding yet another scandalous label of a “siren’s curse.”

As Poseidon departed, the sea gradually calmed, the storm subsiding.

Mazu stood quietly for a moment, then turned toward the clouds, slightly bowing. “Thank you both for your assistance.”

Fan Wujiu and Xie Bian descended from the clouds and returned the bow. “We were merely observers. We do not deserve such gratitude from the Heavenly Empress.”

Mazu replied, “During my struggle with the Western Sea King, the commotion affected the mortals at sea. I was unable to divide my attention to protect them. It was you two, the Impermanence Immortals, who saved the people under my care. How can that be considered mere observation?”

This was Mazu’s domain, and she could sense everything happening nearby with perfect clarity.

“This place is also our homeland. These mortals were not meant to be caught in such an accident. Out of both reason and compassion, we were bound to intervene,” Xie Bian said.

Mazu thanked them again, then, with a final nod, sank into the sea.

With the matter resolved, the Black and White Impermanence returned to the cruise ship. By now, the passengers had regained their calm, resuming their activities. Of course, some were still shaken and requested to disembark early, but overall, the situation had settled without further issue.

They returned to their rooms, intending to continue their earlier conversation, but the atmosphere had shifted. Such intimate exchanges, after all, were fleeting. Once interrupted, the momentum would be lost. No one brought it up again, and they quietly lay down to sleep.

Afterward, neither of them had any more interest in sightseeing, and the next day, they made their way back to Qingzhou.

Qingzhou was one of the ancient Nine Provinces, located between the Bohai Sea and Mount Tai. It was said that Mount Tai was the entrance to the underworld. This legend was not without truth. At least King Yan resided there.

Fan Wujiu and Xie Bian returned to the Yanluo Apartments and headed up to the second floor. The door to Room 202 was open, and inside, Venus and Cupid were sitting on the couch, watching TV.

When he saw them return, Venus greeted them enthusiastically. “You’re back! Did you have a good time these past few days?”

His gaze swept over the two of them, and his expression gradually became more complicated.

As the God of Love and Pleasure, he had the ability to sense whether someone had experienced love. From Venus’ perspective, these two were clearly in love with each other. One of them had even been struck by Cupid’s golden arrow of love, so it seemed only natural that they would confess their feelings. This trip should have been full of passion, a fiery adventure in which they spent countless intimate moments together.

But……

He gently inhaled, noticing the fresh scent of innocence in the air.

These two were still v*rg*ns?

How could they resist?

Venus could not understand.

Could it be that one of them had some untold affliction? Or perhaps both of them had some unspeakable condition?

Venus couldn’t think of a third explanation.

“It’s okay,” Xie Bian said as he opened the door to Room 201. He performed a cleaning spell on the room, which hadn’t been occupied for a few days. “Would you like to come in and sit?”

Cupid was still next door watching cartoons, so Venus walked in without hesitation. “Thank you.”

Fan Wujiu: “Venus, do you know Apollo?”

Xie Bian glanced up.

He had never heard Fan Wujiu show any interest in Apollo, so this question was clearly meant for him.

“Of course. He’s one of the twelve major Olympian gods, just like me. Why do you ask about him?” Venus replied. “I don’t exactly have the best relationship with that guy.”

He and Apollo didn’t have any personal conflicts, but unfortunately, Apollo’s twin sister Artemis was his natural enemy. Artemis was one of the three major v*rg*n goddesses of Olympus, a lover of freedom, who despised marriage and wished for everyone to remain single. Venus, on the other hand, was the God of Love, passionate about romance and wanting everyone to fall in love and marry. It was no surprise that the two of them could hardly stand each other. The animosity was so strong that Venus couldn’t even look at Apollo’s handsome face without feeling absolutely no desire for him.

“I’m curious about how they divide the sun,” Fan Wujiu said. “There’s only one sun, but there are so many sun gods across different countries. How do they coexist peacefully?”

Venus responded with a question of her own. “There’s only one Earth, but does that mean there’s only one earthlings? Of course, they live like neighbors, adjusting as needed. I don’t know much about the sun, but I’ve once heard Artemis and Daphne talk. Artemis made a friend on the moon named Chang’e, and there’s also someone called Wu Gang who’s always chopping down the laurel trees there. When Daphne heard about it, she almost died of rage.”

Xie Bian: “……”

Fan Wujiu: “……”

It was truly an answer that was both unexpected and yet entirely fitting.

“After saying so much, I also have questions to ask you,” Venus said eagerly. “Where did you go on your trip? Was it fun? China is so vast, and I’ve been so bored staying in this apartment for so long. I was thinking of taking Cupid out to travel.”

Xie Bian replied, “China is vast, with countless beautiful landscapes. This time, we went to Fujian.”

Venus looked intrigued. “Did anything interesting happen there?”

“Well, there was one thing,” Fan Wujiu said casually. “We witnessed a battle between sea deities on a cruise. Poseidon crossed the border without permission and was sent back by Mazu to get his visa.”

Venus: “……”

Xie Bian, who was skilled at reading the room, noticed his sudden change in expression. “Venus, you seem a bit off. Is something wrong?”

Venus covered his face in distress. “I wanted to hear something interesting, not a ghost story!”

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