Chapter 57: The King of Hell’s Wedding (37)
On the other side.
The sunlight was just right, scattering across the road in shards of light. Jian Yuntai felt his steps lighten at the thought that the second taboo of the Yin Officials could be completed by noon. Sun Bin watched him in confusion and finally asked, unable to hold back: “How did you manage to get through last night?”
Jian Yuntai replied, “I didn’t ‘manage’ it. Last night’s situation wasn’t something you could just sneak through—it would have only gotten more complicated. It’s better to just tell the truth.”
Sun Bin clapped his hands. “Lesson learned.”
Jian Yuntai looked at him again and reminded, “Your skill isn’t dreamwalking—it’s more like traveling through time or space. But right now, you’re still at the beginner level. Those who travel back can’t change past events… Anyway, focus on improving your skill. Given time, your ability might surpass many in the Livestream Team.”
“???” Sun Bin himself wasn’t even sure what his skill did. Hearing Jian Yuntai’s words, his eyes brightened with anticipation. “Even better than you?”
Jian Yuntai patted his small head, smiling faintly without warmth. “Provided you survive until that time.”
“……” Sun Bin felt suffocated. Why did Jian Yuntai look like he was smiling, yet somehow every word felt like a hidden blade?!
……
……
When Jian Yuntai entered the side hall, he immediately sensed something was wrong.
By rights, he was already considered late today. Yet the hall had only half the number of people compared to yesterday. Most veteran players were absent, and the streamers were few.
He Qingzhou paced anxiously across the room. Seeing Jian Yuntai, he almost ran over, pale-faced. “Something’s happened!”
“What’s wrong?” Jian Yuntai asked, glancing around. “Why are so many veteran players missing from the instance?”
“That’s normal,” He Qingzhou replied quickly. “Many people in the real world have lovers. If they don’t want to betray them, taking side quests is basically a death sentence. Their soul contract values are too low, and some are too weak to come at all. By the fourth day, numbers might halve again.” He paused briefly, then hurried on: “But that’s not the main issue—Fatty’s in trouble!”
Jian Yuntai had been observing the veteran players in the room. At that, he froze instinctively.
“What could happen to Fatty?”
“What else could happen? He’s about to die!” He Qingzhou was sweating profusely. “Cha Huafeng specifically told me to wait here for you. All the other streamers have already gone to Fatty’s side.”
Jian Yuntai frowned. “Can you get to the point?”
“….” He Qingzhou, caught off guard by the tone, paused for a few seconds before finally speaking the key detail: “Yesterday, after Cui Yu took you away, Fatty and Diao Shan suddenly started arguing. I only caught the gist—it was something about a corpse hidden under a bed. The night before, Fatty had already fought Diao Shan over this.”
“Yesterday at noon, Diao Shan, not knowing why, came to ask. Fatty got angry just seeing him, disgusted enough to confront him. Then Diao Shan tried to explain. During the scuffle, Fatty’s cat bit through Diao Shan’s throat. Diao Shan is close to death now, and Fatty’s soul contract value has dropped dramatically.”
“……” Jian Yuntai was silent for a long while.
He had heard about this in the ghost carriage yesterday but never imagined that Diao Shan’s destined person was actually Fatty! It was like seeing a house collapse one night and only realizing the next morning it was your own.
He stayed quiet for a long time.
He Qingzhou grew more anxious. “Stop staring. Go help him!” He grabbed Jian Yuntai and tried to pull him along.
Jian Yuntai, not as strong, was dragged a few steps before frowning. “Wait. See if there’s any Sinister Spirit Types among the veteran players and pull them along too.”
“There aren’t!” He Qingzhou didn’t look back, running as he spoke. “Cha Huafeng already checked. There are only four Sinister Spirit Types in this instance. One is dead, another’s soul contract went negative, and a third chose the main quest and can’t be seen.”
“And the fourth?”
“That’s your roommate Yu Xingcao. He went yesterday; we don’t know the current situation.”
A few steps later, Jian Yuntai felt resistance. He Qingzhou looked back, confused, to see Jian Yuntai frowning at the direction of the main hall.
“What now?”
“……” Jian Yuntai pursed his lips and shook his head. “Nothing. Let’s go.”
The livestream viewers panicked:
“Ahhh, I knew Jian Dadan would do this, but seeing it still shocked me. Between Fatty and Cui Yu, he still chose Fatty, sob sob sob…”
“That’s logical. Fatty is a colleague and roommate in the real world; Cui Yu is just someone in the instance.”
“Luckily, Diao Shan was too badly injured to be moved far. They put him with a ghost doctor nearby. Round trip is about an hour—if they hurry, they can still make the noon appointment!”
“LOL, Diao Shan must have sat up in shock thinking you guys were joking!”
“Isn’t anyone worried about Fatty? He’s really in danger. Go check his stream—you’ll see. It’s bad… so bad that maybe even Jian Dadan can’t save him. They might have to free up his spot for a newbie.”
At this, everyone gasped. “Wait, spots only open if a streamer dies? Is Fatty really that in danger?”
Dangerous. Very dangerous.
Seeing Diao Shan, Jian Yuntai knew Fatty was now teetering on the edge of life and death.
He had to admit, Jinjin’s bite was vicious. Diao Shan’s throat was ripped open, wrapped in layers of thick gauze. The crimson blood seeped through to the sheets. Just passing the doorway, the stench of blood hit him in the face—the entire corridor reeked.
Jian Yuntai didn’t linger and followed He Qingzhou forward.
Through the corridor, they saw the courtyard crowded with streamers, some sitting, some standing, all looking troubled.
“Surviving last night was a miracle. Diao Shan won’t make it today.”
“Is there some kind of misunderstanding?”
“Chen Sanxian, who cares about a misunderstanding? Even you would be disgusted if you saw a mummified woman under a bed at midnight. You wouldn’t know how long she’d been there.”
“Ugh—” A chorus of dry heaves.
“Are you joking with me? I’m not going near Diao Shan. It’s too freaking disgusting.” Fatty’s voice came from inside the room, full of indignation. “Whatever his secrets, I really respect him this time!”
Hearing the strength in his voice, Jian Yuntai’s worry eased slightly.
They entered the room.
Before he even stepped in, a voice spoke first: “If you don’t go, ‘Do Not Speak of the Past’ can’t be resolved. Do you want to be stuck in this instance forever?”
The room went silent. Fatty looked surprised.
He was lying on the bed, a basin by his side, vomiting blood intermittently. The smell in the room was indescribable.
Jian Yuntai didn’t hesitate. He walked forward and sat on the edge of the bed. “Your soul contract value is probably not even a fraction of mine.”
Fatty looked defiant. “How much is yours?”
“A little over one hundred ten.”
“Then mine’s higher than a fraction of yours!” Fatty held his head high, a bit proud. “I’m twenty-seven!”
“……” Jian Yuntai was half amused, half exasperated. He slapped Fatty hard on the head, almost making him do a seated forward bend on the spot.
Before Fatty could protest, Jian Yuntai said through gritted teeth: “What’s there to be proud of? If you keep lying here like a salted fish, you might die any second.”
Fatty immediately wilted again.
“Meow~~” Jinjin seemed to sense the trouble he’d caused. The kitten jumped down from a high shelf, ran into Jian Yuntai’s lap, and buried its head in his chest, purring.
After a while, it still didn’t lift its head; its round little ears drooped like airplane wings.
Jian Yuntai pinched its tiny paw. “Well done. Next time, bite the neck clean through, so Fatty can go peacefully right there.”
Fatty knew Jian Yuntai was venting, sarcastically groaning, “Don’t scold us! Jinjin and I are going to be scolded into stupidity.”
Two others were in the room: Cha Huafeng and Yu Xingcao.
Yu Xingcao sat silently, head down, lost in thought. Cha Huafeng immediately stood, worried. “You came just in time. Think of a way to help.”
Jian Yuntai said casually, “What can I do? I’m not a Sinister Spirit Type… Yu Xingcao could just treat Diao Shan, right? This kind of external injury should be easy for a Sinister Spirit type.”
It was an ordinary sentence, but after it was spoken, the room fell strangely silent.
Cha Huafeng coughed awkwardly and said, “I… actually agree, but…” She glanced at Yu Xingcao, hesitated, and finally shook her head with a sigh.
Fatty, as if hitting a minefield, suddenly forced himself upright from his near-death posture and sneered sarcastically: “Some people are petty. If they don’t want to heal, fine. Why stick around me then? Just show the livestream viewers what a great roommate alliance we have?”
Yu Xingcao tensed, angry. “During the main quest, did your injuries heal by themselves?”
Fatty choked on his words. “…………”
Yu Xingcao, still fuming, yelled, “I was right here last night! I stayed with you when you were in the most danger. Forgetting favors is one thing—after all, there are plenty of ungrateful people like you in this world—but you say I’m selling a persona? Selling what persona? My kindness is just treated like donkey liver and lungs!”
“Who the hell are you calling ungrateful?!”
“You! You!”
The two of them argued endlessly. Jian Yuntai immediately stood and moved away from the bed, putting distance between himself and the familiar “battlefield.”
Cha Huafeng’s mouth twitched. She quietly asked, “Have they always been like this?”
Jian Yuntai nodded. “Every day they fight.”
Cha Huafeng complained, “Then you must be a constant mediator, getting soaked in verbal attacks from both sides.”
“I’m too lazy to mediate. Last month I even slept in the underground garage,” Jian Yuntai shrugged. “Just watch—they’ll start yelling at the cat soon enough.”
Cha Huafeng looked blank. “Huh?”
Before she could even process what he meant, Fatty’s angry roar came from behind: “You’ve abused my cat before. How do you explain this?”
“……” Cha Huafeng immediately understood, looking at Jian Yuntai with both admiration and sympathy.
Just how many times had these two argued… Jian Yuntai had even worked out a pattern to their fights. Someday, if one forgot a line, he could seamlessly step in and fight on their behalf.
“I told you, I had a reason for abusing the cat. Wait—no, you’ve confused me. There was no cat abuse… You even cut the power in my room, destroying all my thesis work!” Yu Xingcao seemed enraged to the extreme, unwilling to say even half a sentence to Fatty.
Boom! He stomped the floor loudly, his entire body seeming to blaze as he stormed out, slamming the door with a heavy crash.
Even outside the room, he shouted indignantly: “You better die in the instance today! When I get out, I’m setting off fireworks all night to celebrate.”
“…….”
The room fell into a cool, eerie silence, leaving only Fatty’s heavy, labored breathing, his face pale as if possessed by a ghost.
After a while, he vomited another mouthful of blood.
Jian Yuntai quickly stepped forward and steadied the basin. “You just drove away the last person who could have saved you.”
Fatty rolled his eyes, speaking through irritation: “Even if I die in this instance today, no matter how badly—I don’t care if he saves me. Damn it, that wretched guy is driving me crazy!”
No sooner had he spoken than his expression changed. Bent over, he vomited another spurt of blood, pain and discomfort written all over his face.
He didn’t straighten up for quite a while.
Jian Yuntai sensed something was wrong. “What’s wrong?”
Fatty didn’t raise his head. “…Nothing.”
Jian Yuntai’s mouth twitched. “Nothing, huh? You’re pushing yourself—how many of your five senses have disappeared this time?”
During the first round of the main quest, the players’ soul contract values had dropped to 30, and one of the five senses had disappeared. Now, in the side quest, Fatty’s soul contract had again dropped below 30. No telling how shattered he must feel inside.
He was falling apart—but he wouldn’t admit it.
Slowly, Fatty straightened, forcing a calm expression. “Lord Fatty’s constitution is strong. All five senses are intact.”
Jian Yuntai raised an eyebrow. “Oh?” He waved his hand in front of Fatty’s eyes. “How many fingers am I holding up?”
Fatty guessed blindly: “…Two.”
Jian Yuntai snorted. “I’m not holding up any fingers.”
“…….”
Fatty’s pupils were already unfocused, unable to see clearly, yet he could still precisely sense Jian Yuntai’s position. Irritated, he muttered: “Jian Dadan’er, you really are endlessly bored, aren’t you!”
After a moment of chaos, the room finally returned to calm. Jian Yuntai got up and opened the door to air out the awful smell.
On his way back, he saw Cha Huafeng earnestly saying, “You really misunderstood Yu Xingcao this time. He didn’t refuse to treat Diao Shan; he had no choice but to wait.”
Fatty faced the wall, hugging the blanket in silent sulking, looking stubborn as a mule.
Cha Huafeng sighed helplessly. “Are you even listening?”
“Ignore him. Stubborn as a bull,” Jian Yuntai said, glancing at Fatty with merciless mockery. “His life is his own. At this rate, even immortals can’t save him. I’m telling you now, I have business at noon and will leave afterward. If this isn’t resolved before noon, I’ll just consider myself here to escort Fatty on his final journey.”
He paused, then added casually, “Don’t worry about the afterlife. Next year, I’ll burn a few joss papers for you.”
The livestream viewers, who had been worried, burst into laughter at Jian Yuntai’s words:
“You can tell they’re really familiar with each other, hhhhhh.”
“Jian Dadan is genuinely a bit angry this time. He even scolded Jinjin. Luckily, it’s not that hard to solve; Fatty and Yu Xingcao are just making it complicated.”
“The two of them never got along. Even before Jian Dadan joined the Livestream Team, they’d been at odds. Every fight is over trivial nonsense. Jian Dadan probably feels frustrated—like trying to teach iron to be pliable—and thinks they’re too headstrong.”
“Abusing the cat isn’t trivial! Fatty treats Jinjin like a little treasure—beating the cat is worse than beating himself.”
“Yu Xingcao already said he didn’t abuse the cat.”
“But he won’t say why Jinjin’s head was bled bald… Hitting that hard isn’t an accident. I can’t think of any explanation besides abuse.”
As the viewers debated, the room remained silent for five or six minutes. Fatty shifted uneasily but still couldn’t bring himself to speak.
Jian Yuntai raised an eyebrow at Cha Huafeng, signaling her. She received the hint and quickly spoke.
“During the main quest, when no consummate of marriage was needed, he treated you. Think about it—he had no reason to make the side quest intentionally difficult. His side quest was already chaotic; he didn’t want to participate in the consummate of marriage, so he had to create a serious injury as an excuse to skip it.”
“Now there are many ghost officials around Diao Shan. If he goes to treat him, it’s like telling his destined person directly: I can heal you, but I won’t do the consummate of marriage.”
She sighed. “Using his skill now is essentially self-sacrifice. For him, the girl wanting to consummate the marriage is minor; the real issue is—his own soul contract value will drop sharply. Helping you risks his life.”
When she finished, Fatty finally reacted, turning around with a shocked expression. “Why didn’t he say so earlier?!”
Jian Yuntai kicked him lightly. “You yelled at Yu Xingcao like he was a servant, and now you’re complaining he ‘didn’t say’? Go apologize. Maybe he’ll be in a better mood and help you generously.”
“……” Fatty looked like he was constipated from anger.
Even someone like Chen Sanxian, able to bend and yield, would struggle to apologize to Yu Xingcao… Just imagining it made him feel suffocated. He could already picture Yu Xingcao’s mocking face, sneering: “Oh, Fatty can apologize too? That’s the best you’ve got?”
—Just thinking about it made him furious.
Fatty glared. “I’m not apologizing.”
“……” Jian Yuntai nearly lifted the blanket then and dumped the basin of vomit over Fatty’s head.
Before he could speak, several urgent calls came from outside the room.
“Yu Xingcao! Don’t go over there!”
“What’s the difference between this and self-destruction?”
“Don’t save a Chen Sanxian and get yourself trapped! Stop him, let’s think of another way!”
The three inside froze for a moment. In less than a minute, He Qingzhou rushed in.
The instant he stepped inside, the overwhelming stench of vomit hit him, nearly making him turn back. Pinching his nose, he muttered, “Yu Xingcao went to treat Diao Shan.”
“What?!” Fatty struggled to sit up, shouting anxiously, “You guys go stop him! Has he lost his mind?!”
Jian Yuntai pressed him back down. “Lie still.”
Fatty reluctantly lay back, his face twisted in frustration.
If he didn’t let Yu Xingcao go, Fatty might die. But if he let him go, Yu Xingcao could get into trouble.
He couldn’t repay this favor, nor did he want to owe anyone.
For Jian Yuntai, it was trivial—purely trivial. This was such a simple matter; he couldn’t understand why they were so conflicted.
“He Qingzhou, bring a few strong Sinister Monster-type streamers and come with me,” Jian Yuntai said as he walked out. Turning to Fatty, he added, “You and Yu Xingcao need to sort things out today. If next month the dorm is still a mess, I’ll throw both of you out. Argue all you want—but not in the dorm.”
……
……
Yu Xingcao wasn’t moving fast.
Every step sent pain through his nerves—the fist-sized piece of flesh he had surgically removed from his waist throbbed intensely. If not for excellent bandaging, blood would have already seeped out.
His mind was conflicted.
Dorm assignments for livestreamers were random. Many dorms were chaotic like theirs.
His dorm was still relatively mild—just quarrels. Other dorms had roommates who had sworn mortal enmity in instances, even poisoning the drinking water.
“Just consider it feeding the eagle with flesh. Forget it—I’m not expecting repayment,” Yu Xingcao thought, staring at the room where Diao Shan was. Without hesitation, he walked toward it.
A ghost official blocked him. “What are you doing?”
“Saving Diao Shan,” Yu Xingcao said.
The ghost official paused, staring at him for several seconds.
Around the room, seven or eight ghost officials looked pale and doll-like. Being stared at by so many cold, piercing eyes, Yu Xingcao felt pressured. “Do you even want Diao Shan to live?”
The ghost officials remained silent.
One of them finally spoke respectfully: “Sir, it’s not that we doubt you. Chief Judge Cui ordered this place to be guarded. If you can specify a method of treatment, you may save him under our supervision.”
Observation? More like surveillance.
Yu Xingcao understood but didn’t argue. He spoke: “I have a…” a magical treasure.
Before he could finish, the sound of footsteps approached, and a heavy hand landed on his shoulder.
Turning his head, he saw Jian Yuntai smiling warmly at the two ghost officials. “My friend’s just joking around with you. How could he have a way to save someone? He just wants to check if Diao Shan’s dead or not.”
The ghost officials: “???”
Yu Xingcao: “???”
At that moment, more footsteps sounded behind them. He Qingzhou arrived with seven or eight muscular Sinister Monster Types streamers. Their imposing presence cast shadows over the room.
The ghost officials remained firm: “Chief Judge Cui said no living person may enter!”
He Qingzhou tried to argue: “We do have a way to save him—but it can’t be done under your observation. Just step away for five minutes, alright?”
The ghost officials refused: “Chief Judge Cui said…”
He Qingzhou immediately pushed Jian Yuntai forward, using his presence to intimidate: “You know him, right? He’s Chief Judge Cui’s little wife. If you anger him…” The rest of the words were swallowed as Jian Yuntai shot a murderous glare.
The ghost officials remained stubborn: “We only obey Chief Judge Cui. Either you save him under our watch, or leave. Don’t obstruct official duties.”
He Qingzhou wanted to argue more, but froze.
Out of the corner of his eye, Jian Yuntai walked to a corner and lifted a stone stool.
It should have been extremely heavy, yet in Jian Yuntai’s hands it felt like a small, empty thermos bottle. He could swing it with ease.
“….” He Qingzhou froze, utterly dumbfounded.
The ghost officials followed his gaze. In panic, He Qingzhou shouted at the top of his lungs: “One, two, three, four, five!”
The ghost officials were confused: “…?”
Jian Yuntai, carrying the stone stool, walked forward with nimble steps.
He Qingzhou’s face twitched uncontrollably, a thousand thoughts crossing his mind, yet somehow none at all.
Seeing the ghost officials about to turn around, he shouted even louder: “Six, seven, eight, nine! JQK! Small ghosts, big ghosts!!!”
“???” The ghost officials looked utterly bewildered.
Just as they questioned if this towering man had lost his mind, a gentle voice whispered by their ears: “Don’t you have playing cards in the Underworld?”
“?!” The ghost officials turned in shock.
Too late. Everything was too late.
In their view, only the stone stool hurtled toward them with a whooshing sound. With a loud bang, one ghost official flew several meters back, smashing into a wall.
He stayed wedged there, head down, unmoving, clearly unconscious.
The remaining ghost officials were all shocked.
Even the arriving streamers were dumbfounded, unsure what Jian Yuntai was doing.
As everyone gaped, Jian Yuntai dusted off his hands calmly. “Knock them all out. I’ve got Cui Yu’s side covered. Just leave them alive.”
The viewers had guessed what was coming the moment Jian Yuntai grabbed the stool:
“Hahaha, the ghost officials have small ambitions. He Qingzhou even tried reasoning with them. Jian Dadan? He gives zero explanations—just hits!”
“Ahhh I’m obsessed—‘I’ve got Cui Yu’s side covered’—he’s just playing around!”
“The crazy part is he’s not wrong. According to Cui Yu’s method of protecting people, Jian Dadan can totally handle it.”
“What’s there to fear? Charge! Without the ghost officials, Yu Xingcao can save him and keep his soul contract intact!”
The livestream viewers caught on immediately. The streamers didn’t need any explanation.
—Right! If you don’t want the ghost officials watching, there’s no need to politely ask. If reasoning doesn’t work, just act—knock them all out.
Cui Yu’s side? Jian Yuntai could cover it.
He had powerful allies.
With that thought, the Sinister Monster Type streamers sprang into action. The ghost officials panicked, fleeing as fast as they could.
While running, their minds screamed:
“What are these people trying to do?! They’re even more ruthless than ghosts!!!”
※※※
Yin Law Division.
Today, the destined officials in the office were already frazzled, thinking they wouldn’t make lunch. Yet they even left work early.
Watching Cui Yu stride lightly away, the destined officials sighed in frustration.
“Chief Judge Cui blossomed like an iron tree—first time in a thousand years!”
“Hehe, if he’s happy, we’re happy too. If he’s happy every day, we can leave early every day.”
The destined officials chuckled, but their smiles didn’t last long. Upon entering the side hall, they were stunned.
The hall was eerily silent.
Most people had already left.
Cui Yu stood in the center, scanning the room, eyes momentarily freezing on the trembling ghost officials.
“Where is he?”
Without prompting, the ghost officials understood and lowered themselves further. “Lord Xiao Jian had an urgent matter. He… went out.”
“Did he say where?”
“Uh… no.”
“……”
The side hall was deathly silent. Cui Yu’s face was grim. No one dared speak.
Heads hung low, some wanting to flee but frozen in place.
Just as everyone feared Cui Yu’s wrath, he returned to his usual calm, though his face was slightly pale.
He asked hoarsely, “What time is it?”
“One hour to noon,” a ghost official replied timidly, sneaking a glance at Cui Yu.
No one knew what Cui Yu was thinking—only that his slightly lowered eyes and white hair made the room feel dimmer.
He said nothing and turned to leave.
Only then did everyone in the hall finally exhale, feeling as if pardoned. They muttered aloud: “So terrifying!”
Before starting work, Jian Yuntai had arranged with Cui Yu to meet at a pavilion by the Sea of Life and Death.
It was set amidst the vast blue sea and sky, and just being inside the pavilion made one feel serene and at peace. Originally, Cui Yu didn’t insist on the location, but Jian Yuntai had repeatedly stressed, “We must pick a beautiful place to send your father and mother into reincarnation! That way, whenever you recall this moment, you’ll remember something beautiful—blue sea, blue sky, white clouds… isn’t that better?”
“All right,” Cui Yu had answered with a smile.
Now, only he remained in the pavilion.
The blue sea and sky reflected this loneliness back at him.
Outside, ghost officials walked past, yet none noticed Cui Yu inside. Several of them muttered with regret.
“Did you hear? Destined Official Hu’s destined person found out about his shameful past. He held back for the first two days, but one day suddenly tried to escape. Now he’s hiding!”
“Why did he hold back for the first two days?”
“Afraid Destined Official Hu would kill him. He pretended to comply until Destined Official Hu let his guard down—that way, it would be easier to escape…”
Before the conversation finished, a ghost official from the pavilion shouted angrily downward, “Who’s spreading rumors down there?!”
Only then did those officials notice Cui Yu. Shocked, they immediately knelt, not daring to make a sound.
After a deathly silence, Cui Yu didn’t even turn his head and said, “Leave.”
Though curt and rude, the ghost officials treated it like a great blessing, scrambling away in terror. Only when they were far did they dare speak.
“Why is Chief Judge Cui there?”
“Who knows? I nearly died of fright!”
After silence returned, the ghost officials in the pavilion hesitated for several minutes before one whispered, “Could Lord Xiao Jian also…”
When their eyes met Cui Yu’s, they immediately fell silent.
Those eyes—though a beautiful pale color—seemed to contain the darkest emotions in the world. Just one glance made their whole body shiver, as if they had already died once.
Cui Yu turned his gaze toward the Sea of Life and Death.
“What time is it?”
“Sir, half an hour until noon.”
※※※
Inside the room, an awkward atmosphere lingered. He Qingzhou shivered, unable to bear it, and bolted outside.
Jian Yuntai sat on the edge of the bed, saying to Fatty, “Don’t look at me with those sentimental eyes. Yu Xingcao is the one who saved him.”
Fatty’s face flushed as he glanced at Yu Xingcao.
“Thanks,” he muttered, so quietly it barely sounded like a mosquito’s hum.
Yu Xingcao, face cold, mocked, “Is that how you thank someone?”
Just as expected! Fatty knew he would say that, and his anger flared. He growled fiercely, “Thanks! Thanks!”
Jian Yuntai tilted his head to suppress a laugh. After laughing, he caught Yu Xingcao, who was about to leave, and asked, “Why did you hit Jinjin before?”
“I didn’t hit it!” With so many viewers watching the livestream, Yu Xingcao usually didn’t bother arguing with Fatty, but now staying silent could ruin his reputation.
He hesitated, then said stiffly, “I really didn’t hit it. That day I just wanted to trim some cat hair. But I lost control and shaved off a big patch by accident.”
Fatty was puzzled. “Why were you trimming Jinjin’s hair?”
“…” Yu Xingcao held his breath and said nothing.
Fatty was shocked. “You don’t have some secret fetish, do you? Like how Diao Shan had been hiding corpses under his bed?”
“Why don’t you just shut up? All you do is yap!” Yu Xingcao snapped, exasperated. “I’ve been living with you for months and you still didn’t notice I’m allergic to cat hair? I just wanted some of Jinjin’s hair to make my own allergy medicine.”
“…” Silence fell over the room.
Fatty suddenly burst out laughing, even more astonished: “You’re allergic to cat hair?”
“I knew you’d laugh at me.” Yu Xingcao slammed down onto the bed, fuming.
“Funny, huh? Me being allergic to cat hair is funny? When I’m itching all over, I feel like killing you.”
This time, Fatty apologized immediately, completely unburdened, laughing loudly: “Sorry, I was wrong! Hahaha, I’m not laughing at your allergy, I’m laughing at the fact you held this little secret in for months without saying a word—hahaha…”
“…” Yu Xingcao stared blankly and looked at Jian Yuntai, who was watching the scene, and asked, “Is that really funny?”
Jian Yuntai shook his head with a smile: “Not funny at all.”
Yu Xingcao said, “You weren’t going to tell me you had something to do at noon?”
“…” Jian Yuntai smiled, then his expression suddenly stiffened, as if someone had stepped hard on his tail—like a cat being crushed.
—Damn! He had gotten too caught up and completely forgot about Cui Yu!
He jumped up and ran straight out, almost in one breath reaching the ghost carriage.
He pounded the carriage arms furiously. “Hurry, hurry! To the pavilion by the Sea of Life and Death at the main hall!”
The ghost officials immediately drove the carriage.
Halfway there, Jian Yuntai anxiously lifted the curtain. “What time is it?”
The ghost official glanced back, surprised. “Sir, the golden sun has already risen, so it’s…”
“Speak quickly! Stop with the flowery words!”
“…Eleven fifty-five.”
“…” Jian Yuntai’s expression changed rapidly. It would take half an hour to get back—too late.
He sat on the carriage arm and asked, “This whip in your hand—is it for driving ghostfires?”
“Yes.”
“Move aside, give me the whip.”
“???”
The carriage thundered along like a storm, lightning flashing around. The ghost official had never ridden a ghost carriage this fast before.
Humans ran ahead, souls chased behind.
By the end, the ghost official looked pale and finally couldn’t hold it. He bent over and dry-heaved, letting out a loud retch.
“Lord Xiao Jian… please slow down… ugh… slow down… even the Underworld fines for speeding… ugh…”
Time ticked away, second by second.
Jian Yuntai lost track of the exact moment. All he knew was that he kept cracking the whip, lashing the first few ghostfires at the front of the carriage like demonic beasts, twisting and changing shape wildly.
Finally, they came to a stop.
Outside, the view was vast and open. The Sea of Life and Death stretched endlessly beyond the pavilion, the blue water blending into the horizon. Far away, ghosts wandered like drifting wisps of white mist.
Jian Yuntai got out of the carriage, heart leaping.
The pavilion was empty.
Had he arrived too late?
The ghost official, still dizzy from the ride, had been holding his stomach and vomiting by the side of the carriage for quite some time. Feeling faint, Jian Yuntai grabbed him by the collar. “What time is it?”
The official’s heart sank, but he forced out an answer: “Lord Xiao Jian… it’s a quarter past noon.”
Twelve fifteen.
Thump, thump, thump—his heart raced wildly.
Jian Yuntai sank to the ground, throat burning, blood surging, and his vision darkening in waves.
He had arrived too late. Cui Yu was already gone.
This was bad, so bad. That meeting had been incredibly important to Cui Yu, and now he had messed it up.
Cui Yu would definitely be angry.
Just as Jian Yuntai’s mind spun frantically, trying to figure out how to prostrate himself and beg for forgiveness, out of the corner of his eye he noticed the pavilion across the way. A flash of white light caught his attention.
“…!” Jian Yuntai was genuinely furious this time. He kicked the ghost official and yelled, “Why is there another pavilion over there?!”
The official wailed in protest, tears streaming down like noodles: “There are always two pavilions in the Sea of Life and Death! You didn’t say which one, so I just brought you to one of them!”
Jian Yuntai, too anxious to argue, sprinted directly toward it, lying on the pavilion’s edge to wave and shout: “Cui Yu! Cui Yu! Chief Judge!”
Cui Yu sat in the pavilion, unmoving.
Though it was noon, the sun blazing overhead, it seemed as if snow covered that side, chilling to the bone.
He couldn’t hear him.
The distance was too far.
The ghost official was about to ask if Jian Yuntai wanted to take the carriage again, when he was shocked to see Jian Yuntai stride across the pavilion railing and leap into the Sea of Life and Death.
Splash.
The official froze in disbelief. “Lord Xiao Jian!”
—This was it. The Chief Judge would kill him.
Absolutely would. Waaaaahhh!
…
“Lord Chief Judge,” the ghost official sighed, “should we wait? It’s already a quarter past noon.”
Cui Yu’s voice was cold and sharp: “Wait.”
The surrounding ghost officials were anxious, sensing a fearsome aura emanating from Cui Yu.
Silence reigned, but his eyes burned with unyielding intensity.
It was as if, in the next second, he might suddenly glare and slaughter all the ghost officials in the pavilion.
Just when everyone thought they were doomed, suddenly—
It was as if heavenly music resounded. Jian Yuntai’s voice rang out like divine melody, exceptionally warm and familiar.
“Cui Yu!” he shouted.
The ghost officials exhaled in relief, tears glistening in their eyes.
Cui Yu, equally stunned, looked up.
The young man floated in the blue waters, pale face glistening with water droplets, shining brilliantly. Countless ghosts surged toward him, yet he ignored them completely, propelling himself toward the pavilion.
Swish, swish—
Cui Yu almost immediately stood up.
It was as if a lost treasure had returned; his eyes flickered with restrained emotion, hands tucked in his sleeves slightly curling, then uncurling, fingertips trembling.
He took a few steps forward, about to leap into the Sea of Life and Death to catch Jian Yuntai. Behind him, the ghost officials panicked, shouting: Lord, calm down! Lord Xiao Jian is almost here! Why would you jump in now?!
Jian Yuntai hadn’t thought about any of that when he jumped into the sea. Who knew the ghosts, starved for centuries, would all surge toward him at once?
He knew the sight behind him must have been incredible, for even the ghost officials in the pavilion were shocked.
Luckily, he swam fast.
The ghosts couldn’t catch him.
Jian Yuntai couldn’t see behind him, but the livestream viewers shared Cui Yu’s perspective.
Everyone froze in front of their screens, eyes wide, marveling at nature’s eerie craftsmanship. Behind Jian Yuntai, countless ghosts wailed mournfully, the winds whipped up the blue sea into a storm, a living hell on Earth. Yet Jian Yuntai cut through it like a clear dividing line.
He was there, and the sea remained calm and serene.
“……”
With a thunk, he hauled himself onto the pavilion, dripping wet, knees planted, panting heavily.
Finally, he looked up. “How late was I?”
“Exactly twenty minutes. And forty-one seconds,” Cui Yu answered.
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