Chapter 58: The King of Hell’s Wedding (38)
The wind rustled softly.
Above the blue sea, ripples shimmered under the bright sunlight. The wind mingled with the sound of the waves, and the ghosts, unwilling to linger by the pavilion, gradually drifted away.
From time to time, destined officials finished their work and passed by this place. They stopped, curious and surprised:
“Chief Judge Cui looked murderous when he left the side hall. What’s going on now?”
“A misunderstanding, nothing more!”
“Psst—was that Lord Xiao Jian in the pavilion?”
Amid the many curious gazes, Jian Yuntai froze stiff, his body rigid as a straight brick.
He had been rebellious since childhood.
For years at the orphanage, he had either been the one getting beaten to a pulp, or the one delivering a beating to others.
But being cherished and held like this—this was a first.
His whole body felt wrong, his scalp as if it had exploded. After a few minutes of helpless confusion, Jian Yuntai cleared his throat and said, “Chief Judge Cui, I’m still wet…”
Before he could finish, he felt Cui Yu’s fingertip brush lightly along his waist. The clothes that had been dripping water just a second ago now seemed to dissolve into mist, leaving him completely refreshed.
Jian Yuntai silently closed his mouth.
It was only at this moment that the livestream viewers reacted, erupting into excited clucks and screams in the chat:
“Ahhhh, I’m so scared! Thank goodness Jian Dadan made it in time! Wuwuwu! If he hadn’t, imagine how heartbroken Cui Yu would’ve been 5555555”
“Well, technically he wasn’t on time. He was twenty minutes late, but Jian Dadan sped along, and Cui Yu was willing to wait. Otherwise, we wouldn’t have seen this scene at all.”
“Cui Yu missed the Moon God’s wedding once, watching her die in resentment. Later, he barely caught up after using the time artifact. He knows how unbearable it is to be late—thankfully he understands, or I’d cry if tragedy repeated!”
“If only Jian Dadan had been twenty hours late, I wouldn’t have to do a thing—let them hug all day.”
“Hahaha, girl, what a wild thought! If it were twenty hours, Jian Dadan’s Yin Official Two Taboos mission might be in jeopardy hhhhhh”
Someone reminded them, and the viewers remembered there was still an instance quest waiting for Jian Yuntai.
Although everyone wanted to watch the two of them being sticky and affectionate, time waits for no one. Twenty minutes passed in the blink of an eye, and Jian Yuntai finally stirred.
“…Cui Yu?”
Cui Yu stepped back slightly, restraining himself. He lowered his gaze, expression serious, and said, “You must not be late again in the future.”
Jian Yuntai protested immediately, “I wasn’t late! I just got here a bit slower, but I still made it, didn’t I?”
Cui Yu pressed his lips together. “Being late is not acceptable either.”
Jian Yuntai slumped onto the bench in mock frustration, pretending to be sulky: “Fine, the punishment’s done. If you’re still angry, then I’ll be angry with you too.”
The surrounding ghost officials broke out in cold sweat.
Before Jian Yuntai arrived, they had witnessed the terrifying pressure emanating from Cui Yu. That oppressive aura made their spines bend and their heads unable to rise.
Though it had been only half an hour ago, it felt like they had all lived through a nightmare. And now, Cui Yu’s dual standards became perfectly clear.
Cui Yu, instead of being angry, smiled faintly and asked, “How would you be angry at me?”
The inhuman coldness he carried moments ago had completely vanished, as if spring had suddenly arrived. At that moment, the ghost officials in the Chief Judge’s residence formed a firm belief—if they wanted to please Cui Yu, it was better to please Jian Yuntai!
If they tried to please Cui Yu, he would just tell them to leave.
If they pleased Jian Yuntai, and he was happy, Cui Yu would be happy too.
And if Cui Yu was happy, everyone in the Underworld would be happy.
How perfect!
The ghost officials looked at Jian Yuntai with eager eyes.
“How would I get angry at you?” Jian Yuntai actually pursed his lips, thinking seriously for a moment.
He rarely got angry. In the past year, he only became irritable when extremely hungry. In those moments, no matter what Cui Yu did, Jian Yuntai might act like a prickly little hedgehog, finding fault in everything.
But that was impossible with Cui Yu. After all, this person liked “feeding” him.
Being fed well every day, Jian Yuntai never had the chance to be grumpy.
Aside from physiological irritability, the only time he remembered truly being angry was during the first round. When Cui Yu had locked him on the throne after eloping with him, Jian Yuntai had been genuinely upset.
But after the second round, and knowing all the messy history between King of Hell and Cui Yu, he wasn’t so angry anymore.
Wait—
Why even think about this?
“When I’m in a bad mood, I might just ignore people,” Jian Yuntai said casually, then quickly added, “Aren’t we here to send your parents to reincarnation? Is it still noon?”
When in a bad mood, he ignored others.
Cui Yu noted the words in his heart and slightly nodded: “Although noon has passed, it is still within the hour of noon.”
…..
…..
Noon—the sun at its fiercest.
The ghost officials dismissed the nearby Ten Halls imps and destined officials, and soon the pavilion was completely silent.
Cui Yu raised his left palm, and a book appeared, glowing softly like a large piece of Hetian jade, its pages turning slowly.
His right hand held a brush.
The book shimmered faintly, and the brush was black as a void, exuding a daunting aura.
The ghost officials dared not come closer, retreating outside while craning their necks curiously.
The Register of Life and Death, and the soul-reaping brush.
Mention the Underworld, and these two treasures immediately come to mind. They could bridge yin and yang, sending immortals into reincarnation.
For a thousand years, Cui Yu had rarely used these treasures. Today, thanks to Jian Yuntai, the ghost officials finally got a rare chance to witness these famous artifacts.
With a wave of his hand—
The Register of Life and Death stopped on the first page.
Two names were written: the original names of Lord of Dawn and the Moon Goddess. Jian Yuntai leaned in, noticing the cursive script was unrecognizable, written in a wild, flowing style.
He could barely make out the characters “Yan” and “Cui.”
“Were these names written by that Divine Lord back then?” Jian Yuntai asked in confusion.
Cui Yu replied, “I traced them several times.”
“…!” Jian Yuntai laughed immediately.
Just as he expected!
He would never be able to read Cui Yu’s handwriting. In the first round, Cui Yu had pasted a couplet at the door for days, and Jian Yuntai still didn’t know what it said, always staring at it blankly.
The handwriting was beautiful, pleasing to the eye, yet it was like a built-in cipher. Neither Jian Yuntai nor Sun Bin could decipher it.
As Jian Yuntai chuckled at Cui Yu’s handwriting, the livestream viewers started reacting frantically:
“Jian Dadan, you blockhead!!!”
“Cui Yu traced Lord of Dawn and Moon Goddess’s names so many times, I can’t imagine how he endured it all these years—tracing, attempting to send them into reincarnation, yet each time unable to let go, closing the book with a sigh.”
“At a time like this, Jian Dadan, why aren’t you going up to comfort him? And yet you’re laughing at his handwriting in your heart!”
“Hahaha, don’t expect too much from Jian Dadan. At least he’s just laughing inside. If it were Fatty writing, he might have complained out loud by now hhhhh.”
This should have been Cui Yu’s last time writing.
He seemed somewhat nervous, his thin lips tightly pressed together, and the right hand that held the soul-reaping brush hovered in the air for a long while without moving.
The moment arrived.
Jian Yuntai had been worrying about how to speak up, but as soon as he saw Cui Yu freeze in place, he immediately stepped forward.
“I’ll write with you,” he said, solemnly adding, “Don’t worry too much. This time, it will succeed.”
Cui Yu blinked in surprise and turned his gaze to Jian Yuntai.
The two of them held each other’s eyes for a long time.
“Hahahaha, I’m done for, Jian Dadan! You little liar, you just wanted to complete the side quest!!!”
The viewers seemed to split in two: one half completely melted in sentiment, while the other half laughed themselves silly.
“Hahaha, Jian Dadan right now is exactly like when I did college group projects—so sincere, rushing forward saying: ‘Big brother, add my name too.’”
“Everyone knows Jian Dadan too well hahahaha. If it were another streamer, we’d probably sigh: ‘Ah! So considerate!’ But with Jian Dadan—”
“Jian Dadan: Little lord just wants to snag a quest jpg”
Though they laughed, seeing the serious expression on Jian Yuntai’s face made the viewers pause.
Maybe this wasn’t just about completing a side quest?
Maybe Jian Yuntai genuinely wanted to help.
No one knew his true thoughts—not even he fully understood them.
After a long moment, Cui Yu slightly nodded.
Then he handed the soul-reaping brush to Jian Yuntai. Jian Yuntai had never used a brush before.
He mimicked Cui Yu’s posture, feeling as if the brush in his hand weighed a thousand pounds.
To send someone into reincarnation, to renew bonds from the past—
When such great responsibility fell on one’s own hands, a moment of hesitation was natural.
Just as Jian Yuntai hesitated, his arm was firmly lifted. Cui Yu raised his hand, holding Jian Yuntai’s, and wrapped him gently from behind—
“…!” Jian Yuntai’s heart skipped a beat.
The position was far too intimate. Warmth from Cui Yu’s breath brushed against his ear, his neck tingled. He wanted to pull back, but Cui Yu held firm.
In this position, the first stroke was made.
The brush moved like flowing dragons and snakes, smooth and confident.
The character “Yan” appeared.
In that instant, brilliance swirled, waves surged across the blue sea, and the ghost officials gaped at the pavilion in shock.
The Yin Official treasures were not for outsiders to use lightly; since entering the Underworld, only Cui Yu had ever touched the soul-reaping brush.
Now, there was a second person—Jian Yuntai.
Looking further, the waters before the pavilion reflected like a mirror. From the depths of the sea, countless pure white halos emerged, rising like unraveling threads. The halos multiplied, converged, and swelled into a majestic force, with golden light appearing on the horizon.
Jian Yuntai looked up at the golden light above and asked tensely, “What are those in the sky?”
Cui Yu did not lift his eyes, only glancing slightly at the Register of Life and Death: “Immortals from Heaven.”
“Are they here to escort Lord of Dawn on his way?”
“No. They only want to see if I can do it.”
With those words, the second stroke—
Jian Yuntai didn’t exert any effort; Cui Yu moved the brush.
He only felt his wrist guided. Cui Yu’s palm was cool, but the back of Jian Yuntai’s hand was warm.
Cold and heat intertwined as he completed the third stroke.
Suddenly, the scene brightened, and the golden light on the horizon intensified. Fierce winds whipped over the Sea of Life and Death. The ghosts, fearful, sank to the deepest depths, avoiding the gaze of the pavilion.
The heavenly immortals paused above the clouds, exchanging amazed glances.
“Unbelievable, a thousand years have passed in the blink of an eye. Cui Yu has finally let go of his heart’s knot?”
“Yes, finally.”
“To see Lord of Dawn’s passing, such a rare sight!”
Cui Yu held Jian Yuntai’s hand firmly, lifting the brush to the next name in the Register—Moon Goddess’s.
This time, the brush remained still for a long while.
The immortals above peered down skeptically. The ghost officials outside the pavilion were excited and anxious.
Everyone knew that Cui Yu had killed his mother. If he could let go of Lord of Dawn, could he let go of Moon Goddess?
That had been the darkest period of his life. Letting go seemed as hard as reaching the heavens.
Seconds ticked by. Golden light at the horizon gathered in increasing numbers. Many immortals sighed helplessly: “If only Lord of Dawn could be sent into reincarnation, it would still be—”
Before the words could finish, something changed in the pavilion.
Jian Yuntai turned slightly to look at Cui Yu.
At this moment, they were extremely close. Their breaths mingled, and Jian Yuntai could almost see the hesitation in Cui Yu’s light-colored eyes as his lashes fluttered.
“…!” Jian Yuntai pressed his lips together, then decisively pressed the soul-reaping brush down. Determination appeared on his brow.
If Cui Yu wouldn’t dare, he would do it for him.
Under Cui Yu’s lingering gaze, Jian Yuntai’s eyes were firm as they met the Register.
His handwriting was completely different from Cui Yu’s. Cui Yu’s strokes flowed wildly in cursive, while Jian Yuntai’s were delicate, clear, and readable. Each stroke he wrote on the Register transformed, taking on a new style.
Seconds passed.
The character “Cui” was completed.
Jian Yuntai frowned at the two characters following “Cui,” perplexed—he wanted to help Cui Yu, but he truly couldn’t recognize these characters.
Guessing recklessly could be wrong.
Cui Yu chuckled softly. The shadow of gloom in his eyes gradually dissipated as he took Jian Yuntai’s hand and wrote the final two characters.
Moon Goddess’s name was inscribed.
Lifting the brush, countless white lights rose from the depths. Compared to the sunlight representing Lord of Dawn, the moonlight of Moon Goddess was gentler, like spring breezes brushing the face.
The two lights intertwined seamlessly, like a small boat lightly paddling across the water, dancing and gliding together, or like a pair performing an intricate, intimate duet.
Finally, the lights flowed into the Register of Life and Death. Jian Yuntai, standing before Cui Yu, felt them circulate around them for several seconds before entering reincarnation.
Lord of Dawn and Moon Goddess… were they blessing them?
“Blessings for Lord of Dawn’s passage!”
“Blessings for Moon Goddess’s passage!”
Outside the pavilion, ghost officials knelt in waves. Many called out together, tears welling in their eyes.
When Cui Yu had been sentenced, he had implicated countless Chenyue Ridge immortals. Regardless of their immortal rank, they were all sent to the Underworld. Among these ghost officials, many had served those young immortals.
They had been protected by Lord of Dawn, and watched over by Moon Goddess.
After such painful misunderstandings, a thousand years delayed, they could finally reunite in reincarnation. The ghost officials felt both excitement and joy for them.
Long after, the golden light at the horizon slowly faded.
“It seems Cui Yu has truly let go, no longer hesitating.”
“Very good indeed.”
As the heavenly immortals had said, Cui Yu had really let go this time.
A heavy burden lifted overnight. Once his appearance was regal yet cold, aloof and unapproachable. Now, Cui Yu had quietly gained more smiles.
Stepping back to look at Jian Yuntai, Cui Yu’s brow carried a smile as he prepared to speak, but then he paused slightly.
“What is it?”
Jian Yuntai immediately relaxed his furrowed brow, forcing a smile as he said, “Nothing much.”
Afterward, he pressed his lips together and looked at the Register of Life and Death and the soul-reaping brush in his hand, his expression darkening once more.
What was going on?
Why hadn’t side quest mission three triggered as completed?!
Impossible.
He had just used the soul-reaping brush and the Register of Life and Death. Could it be that sharing it with Cui Yu didn’t count as using it?
That shouldn’t be the case.
Jian Yuntai’s mind raced, immediately considering another possibility—“Do Not Speak of Secret Treasures” didn’t refer to just those two treasures. Could Cui Yu have another treasure?
“Do you have a silver chain?” Jian Yuntai quickly turned to look at Cui Yu. If it wasn’t the soul-reaping brush or the Register, then the silver chain was the only possibility he could think of.
When Cui Yu was born, Moon Goddess had gifted him the silver chain as his destined treasure.
Right, maybe it was the silver chain!
“Yes, there was…” Cui Yu glanced sideways and thought for a moment.
Jian Yuntai’s eyes lit up.
But just as his fighting spirit surged, Cui Yu’s next words snuffed it out completely: “After my mother passed, the silver chain was destroyed.”
“Destroyed? You mean there’s not even a broken piece left? Like a worthless treasure?”
“No.”
“….”
Jian Yuntai stepped back two paces and plopped down on the bench, dumbfounded, unable to speak for a long moment.
※※※
“I just don’t get it! The side quest mission three definitely triggered after using the soul-reaping brush and Register of Life and Death before!”
“I thought it would at least count as one of the two treasures, but apparently it wasn’t either. And the silver chain’s gone—what other treasures could Cui Yu have?”
“None! It should just be those three!”
At lunch, Jian Yuntai ate far less than usual, maybe ten bowls fewer, staring at the dishes without any appetite.
If it weren’t for feeding the Red Lotus baby, he wouldn’t have eaten at all, just wanting to lock himself in his room.
Though he had been forcing himself to maintain his composure around Cui Yu, inside Jian Yuntai was anxious, unable to laugh.
Three days had passed since the instance had restarted, and the fastest progress anyone had made in it was finishing the second taboo of the Yin Officials—but the third taboo remained untriggered.
That meant the third taboo was extremely difficult.
Now Jian Yuntai hadn’t even touched the edge of the third taboo and was stuck on the second.
In three more days, the instance would restart again.
In the real world, plenty of streamers probably had already cleared it and gone back to rest. Yet he was still floundering here. If it restarted again, maybe the other streamers in A- and B-level instances would finish before him.
Worse, some might even enter the instance a second time, and Jian Yuntai still wouldn’t be out.
The more he thought, the more frustrated he felt.
He ate the tasteless lunch, leaving under Cui Yu’s concerned gaze with a calm expression.
He had grown used to hiding his true emotions, so his anxiety didn’t show clearly; no one noticed anything amiss.
The ghost officials, however, discussed something else:
“Lord Xiao Jian ate far less than usual today!”
“Is he upset? I heard that when someone’s in a bad mood, they can’t even eat.”
“No way. When I saw him at lunch, he was smiling. Doesn’t seem like he’s upset.”
Plop—
Cui Yu put down his jade chopsticks, frowning as he watched Jian Yuntai leave, silent for a long moment.
—I don’t really talk to people when I’m in a bad mood.
Those words seemed to echo in his mind, deeply remembered by Cui Yu.
Jian Yuntai must have something on his mind.
The ghost officials hesitated, only able to judge Jian Yuntai’s mood by how much he ate.
But Cui Yu had no doubts. He summoned a ghost official: “During Yin Law Division’s office this morning, what did he do?”
The ghost official replied respectfully, “Lord Xiao Jian went to the ghost doctor’s house where Diao Shan is. His friend Chen Sanxian had been slightly injured yesterday, so Lord Xiao Jian went to visit him.”
“Did anyone make things difficult for him?” Cui Yu asked in a low voice.
“Chief Judge, you previously ordered a few ghost officials to guard outside Diao Shan’s room. When Lord Xiao Jian tried to enter, he got into a conflict with them.”
“Bring those ghost officials here.”
“Ah? This…”
“What’s wrong?”
The ghost official sighed, “Those few were knocked unconscious by Lord Xiao Jian and his companions. They haven’t woken up yet.”
Cui Yu contemplated for a few seconds: “Wake them forcibly and bring them here. I have questions to ask.”
“….” The ghost official choked out his acknowledgement.
……
……
Pulling Sun Bin into a corner, Jian Yuntai asked, “Last time you said you cleared the second taboo, what was Zhang Zhiyan’s secret treasure?”
Zhang Zhiyan had been punished in the Eighteen Levels of Hell these past two days. Sun Bin had been enjoying a few comfortable days, but he knew it wouldn’t last—Zhang Zhiyan was set to exit Hell tonight, which annoyed Sun Bin.
Now with Jian Yuntai asking, it felt like the last day of summer break when a classmate asks, “How much of your homework did you finish?”
Sun Bin groaned: “Why are you bringing him up? I finally managed to bury him in my mind.”
“Do you want to leave the instance?”
“Yes…”
“Then answer obediently. No nonsense.”
Seeing Jian Yuntai’s serious expression, Sun Bin straightened up and said thoughtfully: “Zhang Zhiyan had the yin-yang eyes. After the King of Hell took them, he couldn’t see anymore. Later he tied a silk ribbon—yes, the one around his head. With it, he could sense people and objects nearby. I don’t know exactly how; it felt like a prosthetic eye or something.”
Jian Yuntai asked, “Does everyone in the Underworld know he uses the ribbon instead of eyes?”
“Yes. Otherwise?” After nodding, Sun Bin added oddly, “I haven’t had a chance to ask you: Your second taboo was the soul-reaping brush or the Register of Life and Death?”
Jian Yuntai shook his head: “Neither.”
Sun Bin froze. “What? Impossible! Everyone in the Underworld knows Cui Yu’s treasures are those two. By experience, a destined official’s treasure is public knowledge.”
So what other treasure could Cui Yu have that everyone knew about?
None.
That was why Jian Yuntai was puzzled.
Getting no answer from Sun Bin, he returned to his room deep in thought, frowning.
At dinner, Jian Yuntai forced himself to regain some spirit again.
Guided by the ghost officials, he entered the hall.
The evening dishes were far more extravagant than lunch. The ghost officials seemed to be deliberately trying to please him—or perhaps Cui Yu had instructed them. Numerous large dishes were brought in.
Roasted pigeon had crispy skin dripping with fat, golden in the plate, fragrant at the touch of jade chopsticks.
Golden-thread crispy sparrows filled the room with brilliance.
Lotus seed tofu was fried crisp outside and soft inside, garnished with bright green lotus leaves, beautifully presented.
There were many desserts as well—red bean porridge, honey peanuts, walnut crisps…
Jian Yuntai was shocked by the abundance, and glancing outside at the lined-up ghost officials waiting to serve, he hesitated a moment before asking, “Is it some kind of festival today?”
“Just an ordinary day,” Cui Yu replied.
Jian Yuntai stared in bewilderment. After a few tentative movements with his chopsticks, he asked suspiciously, “Could it be your birthday?”
Cui Yu pressed his lips into a smile and said, “No.”
“That’s good then.” Jian Yuntai relaxed completely and began eating, accepting Cui Yu’s sudden “feeding” without a second thought.
The livestream viewers couldn’t contain their impatience:
“Jian Yuntai, you big wooden block!! Cui Yu, the beautiful one, is trying to coax you, can’t you see it?”
“Jian Dadan only has food on his mind, hahaha—he’s eating while thinking about the side quest. I bet if he can’t figure it out tonight, he’ll wake Cui Yu in the middle of the night and straight-up ask if there’s another treasure.”
“Hahaha, after watching for so long, I finally get it. Jian Dadan is career-minded; there’s no man in his eyes at all.”
They had eaten together many times.
Cui Yu wasn’t a mortal; he might not have needed to eat at all. Each time, he would just accompany Jian Yuntai with a few bites before setting his chopsticks down and silently waiting.
This time was no different.
Before, he would wait over an hour each time; this time it took only half an hour before Jian Yuntai put his chopsticks down and said, “You take your time. I’ll go back and sleep first.”
“Wait a moment,” Cui Yu called out.
Jian Yuntai had already stood, but hearing that, he sat back down. Cui Yu glanced at a ghost official, who immediately understood and, with a face full of disbelief, stepped out of the hall.
Soon, a group followed behind him.
They carried stretchers, and on them were the ghost officials who had been guarding the Diao Shan entrance. Their faces were pale, the word “traumatized” written plainly across their expressions.
As soon as they were carried into the hall, they wailed:
“Lord Xiao Jian, please have mercy! We were only carrying out our duties!”
“If we had known Chief Judge Cui asked you to come, we wouldn’t have dared stop you!”
“I have an eighty-year-old mother at home and an infant child—please, Lord Xiao Jian…”
“….” Jian Yuntai’s lips twitched uncontrollably as he glanced at Cui Yu in confusion.
Cui Yu asked, “You’re upset, is it because of them?”
“???” Jian Yuntai’s lips twitched again.
He hadn’t spoken, but the ghost officials below reacted strongly, trembling all over. The stretchers beneath them rattled rhythmically as they shook.
Clearly, they were genuinely terrified.
Jian Yuntai sat in stunned silence for a moment before suddenly bursting out laughing—so pathetic, it was almost comical.
He had seen how brutal He Qingzhou’s group of Sinister Monster Types could be—they attacked mercilessly. These ghost officials had barely survived. They were already wronged, practically ready to march to the Yin Law Division to protest. And now the top boss of the Yin Law Division added insult to injury, hitting them a second time.
Jian Yuntai had to admit—this follow-up blow was impressive.
“Quickly take them away,” he said, holding his head to stifle laughter. “Cui Yu, you can’t be doing this.”
Cui Yu: “Oh?”
Jian Yuntai shook his head helplessly, laughing: “You’ve seen so many cases in the mortal world. Haven’t you seen this before? —A foolish ruler dotes on his concubine, and in doting, the kingdom falls.” He chuckled, “You fool.”
Cui Yu saw Jian Yuntai finally laugh, and the worry that had been hidden in his brow eased slightly.
He asked in return, “So you’re the concubine?”
Jian Yuntai’s smile froze, and he slammed the table, protesting: “No, you’re the concubine! I, Jian Yuntai, have not a single thing to do with a concubine!”
Cui Yu smiled faintly, saying nothing.
Many viewers, lying in bed with their phones, twisted around and chuckled mischievously:
“Sisters, I ship them! Last night Jian Dadan cheered Cui Yu up, today Cui Yu cheers Jian Dadan—hehe, maybe they should just cheer each other in bed?”
“Looks like a couple flirting with each other~”
“Ugh, seeing this makes me want to fall in love too… the power-wielding ruler and his treacherous concubine! At this rate, maybe the ruler will carry the concubine into court when issuing decrees. Hilarious hhhhh”
“Any wives who can draw or write? I want to see the silver-haired ruler and his concubine, boohoo…”
“+1 for wanting to see”
After the trembling ghost officials were carried away, Cui Yu finally asked, “Then why were you upset?”
Jian Yuntai lied half-heartedly, “I wasn’t upset.”
Silence fell over the table. Jian Yuntai felt the full weight of Cui Yu’s pale eyes staring at him—intense pressure.
He couldn’t hold it in and couldn’t tell the truth.
Finally, he muttered a half-truth: “My friend… the destined person of Diao Shan, Chen Sanxian. The night before, they had a huge fight. My friend was left limping—it was painful to see.”
On that day, he had actually laughed so hard at Fatty, not sad at all. But his face acted as if he were heartbroken for Fatty. He sighed: “Then yesterday at noon, something else happened… I worried that if Chen Sanxian stayed near Diao Shan, it would be dangerous.”
Half of what he said was true—the last sentence.
Jian Yuntai genuinely worried about Fatty.
Fatty wasn’t like him; he was too straightforward, didn’t know how to handle things delicately. If Fatty clashed with Diao Shan head-on, they’d both end up in trouble.
Jian Yuntai even doubted if Fatty could survive until tomorrow; maybe tonight his soul contract points would drop to zero and he’d become foolish.
Thinking that, Jian Yuntai’s smile faded, eventually settling into a serious expression.
Cui Yu studied him silently for a while, then said thoughtfully, “I’ll take you somewhere.”
Jian Yuntai asked, puzzled: “Huh? Where?”
“Follow me,” Cui Yu said, winking. “You’ll see when we get there.”
※※※
The night was thick, and ghost carriages streaked across the sky.
Several ghost officials at the Chief Judge’s residence clicked their tongues in amazement: “Going out for a date in the middle of the night? Chief Judge Cui is in high spirits!”
“A date? I thought he said ‘going somewhere’.”
“You’re silly. ‘Going somewhere’ is just another way of saying a date. Lord Xiao Jian was in a bad mood today; Chief Judge Cui is taking him out to relax and cheer him up.”
“I see! I didn’t expect someone as cold and aloof as Chief Judge Cui to treat someone so attentively.”
“Cold and aloof? That was centuries ago. Haven’t you noticed? Since meeting Lord Xiao Jian, Chief Judge Cui seems to have come alive again.”
Inside the ghost carriage…
Jian Yuntai really couldn’t summon much enthusiasm. By now, in real-world time, it was nearly midnight.
He just wanted to go back to sleep.
But seeing how energetic Cui Yu was, Jian Yuntai forced himself to push down his thoughts and picked up a small yellow book at random, flipping through it. He didn’t understand how Sun Bin could read books—he managed to ruin a perfectly fine book just by flipping it. As soon as a page opened, bits of it floated everywhere.
The fully explicit content drifted right toward Cui Yu’s white hair, as if the filth had sullied a sacred statue. Embarrassed, Jian Yuntai reached out to grab the pages back.’
Cui Yu turned his gaze to him and asked, “Do you enjoy books like this?”
“…???” Jian Yuntai stared back in shock.
It wasn’t him who had made the book a mess—it was Sun Bin! And in the ghost carriage, this was the only book; when bored, what else could he do but flip through it?
He was about to explain when he saw Cui Yu pause, then seriously say, “Tomorrow I’ll have more copies brought in.”
Jian Yuntai: “…”
Cui Yu continued, “You can read them slowly later in your quarters.”
Jian Yuntai: “…..” Tired. Let’s destroy everything.
He really didn’t like yellow books at all!
The ghost carriage traveled for about two hours before arriving.
Jian Yuntai leaned against the window, nearly asleep, when a sudden jolt snapped him fully awake.
No way.
It took two hours to come here, and it would take another two to return. Cui Yu wasn’t planning on letting him sleep tonight!
They got out of the carriage.
Before them lay an open palace. This palace didn’t look like the King of Hell’s main hall, nor like the Chief Judge’s residence. It resembled more a temple set in a desolate wilderness.
Incense burned in front of the temple, the smoke curling lazily.
Walking inside, Jian Yuntai expected to see a solemn statue, but the hall was empty. The floor gleamed clean, and a gentle breeze moved the curtains lightly.
Jian Yuntai and Cui Yu had shared one ghost carriage; more ghost carriages followed, carrying the ghost officials. At that moment, a few ghost officials stepped forward, bowing slightly, and pushed open the main hall doors.
Squeak—
The door creaked open.
A blinding light shot out, illuminating the hall as brightly as daylight. Jian Yuntai instinctively raised his hand to shield his eyes, but after a few seconds, a shadow fell over him.
Looking up, he saw Cui Yu standing in front of him, back to the doors, shielding him from the glaring light. In Cui Yu’s slightly lowered, beautiful eyes, there was moonlight—and Jian Yuntai’s reflection—soft and gentle.
“Since you’re worried Chen Sanxian and Diao Shan will clash again, I have a method to temporarily ease their conflict.”
Jian Yuntai froze. “What method?”
By now, the hall’s blinding light had softened. Cui Yu shifted slightly, stepping aside—
Swish, swish.
Swish, swish.
The wind rustled through grass and leaves, and the sound of turning pages echoed. Jian Yuntai leaned forward and was immediately shocked.
It was the Record of Soul Contracts!
He hurried forward, ready to step into the hall, but an invisible barrier stopped him.
Cui Yu’s voice sounded beside him: “The destined persons recorded in the Soul Contract are heaven-determined; fate cannot be defied. But human will can surpass heaven. If you use the soul-reaping brush to erase their names, you can temporarily conceal them from fate, making these two lose their bond for a while.”
“?!” Jian Yuntai asked, astonished. “For how long?”
Cui Yu replied, “Ten days.”
—Ten days?!
That was more than enough!
A full loop of this instance lasted only six days. If Fatty’s bond with Diao Shan could be temporarily removed, then for at least those three days, his soul contract points wouldn’t decrease.
The mission from above was to bring Sun Bin out of the instance, but Jian Yuntai didn’t want to leave Fatty behind. As always, if he could take them, he had to take everyone together.
Cui Yu waved his hand, and the barrier in front of the hall vanished.
Jian Yuntai hurried inside, approaching the Record of Soul Contracts. But when he reached it, he pressed his lips together and didn’t move.
Cui Yu’s brow creased in confusion. “The soul-reaping brush is in my hand. You don’t want to erase their names?”
“…” Jian Yuntai thought for a moment, then shook his head.
Though this plan was excellent, thinking carefully… even if Fatty and Diao Shan’s bond were removed, it would only stabilize Fatty’s soul contract points, preventing them from falling. What use was that?
If the points didn’t decrease, they also wouldn’t increase.
The side quest required a soul contract value over 200 to complete. If he erased Fatty’s name, the drawbacks would far outweigh the benefits.
Of course, Jian Yuntai couldn’t say that directly to Cui Yu. He came up with another excuse: “Since they are destined persons, it’s better if we don’t interfere. Think about it—what if someone tried to erase your and my names with the soul-reaping brush…”
Before he could finish, Cui Yu’s eyes darkened. “No!”
Jian Yuntai fell silent, just watching him.
Several minutes passed before Cui Yu seemed to realize something. A hint of guilt appeared in his eyes. “Tonight… I acted on my assumptions. I thought bringing you here… you might be happier.”
His voice grew quieter toward the end. Cui Yu furrowed his brow slightly, his gaze dim and lonely.
“Ahhhhhh Jian Dadan! I command you to cheer him up! Cui Yu, the handsome beauty, only wants to make you happy, 55555!”
“My heart… he must be blaming himself. In the middle of the night, he dragged Jian Yuntai here, and his goal wasn’t accomplished. He’s probably beating himself up for being impatient and disturbing Jian Dadan’s sleep.”
“These two are about to drive me insane ahhhhh! Jian Dadan, can’t you see that Cui Yu is upset?!”
If Jian Yuntai wanted to notice Cui Yu’s loneliness, he’d first have to actually look at him. But at this moment, his eyes were fixed on the Record of Soul Contracts, unblinking, his expression shifting with every passing second.
Suddenly, he remembered something!
The day the second Yin Official taboo was triggered, Cui Yu had indeed mentioned the “soul-reaping brush” and the “Register of Life and Death.”
But he hadn’t only mentioned those two treasures.
—A thousand years ago, when I requested the Record of Soul Contracts, the Buddha told me that immortals follow the law of free fate, and one day I would understand…
Those had been Cui Yu’s exact words at the time.
Could it be… that the second Yin Official taboo referred to the Record of Soul Contracts?!
The thought had barely formed in his mind before Jian Yuntai’s excitement surged. The melancholy that had dragged him down all afternoon was instantly replaced by a rush of adrenaline—he was ecstatic.
He stepped forward several paces.
Fingertips brushing the Record of Soul Contracts.
【Player Side Quest Update】
【STEP3: Three Taboos of Yin Officials】
【Do Not Speak of Secret Treasures】
It really was! It really was!
Like rain after a long drought, Jian Yuntai turned to look at Cui Yu, who kept his gaze lowered, silent.
【A thousand years ago, Yan Luo and Cui Yu fought a great battle, mistakenly releasing countless souls into the Sea of Life and Death. Heaven’s punishment descended, ending the unending lives of the underworld dead, and Cui Yu knelt at the Southern Gate of Heaven, refusing to rise…】
Jian Yuntai no longer paid attention to the background narration of the instance. He strode up to Cui Yu, joy radiating from his face, ready to share the good news.
The forbidden treasure was… the Record of Soul Contracts!
He couldn’t say it out loud.
He was about to complete Side Quest Mission Two!
Damn it—still couldn’t say it.
Jian Yuntai opened his mouth, then closed it again, his face flushed with suppressed excitement.
Under Cui Yu’s curious gaze, Jian Yuntai grabbed the front of his clothing, eyes sparkling with joy:
“Cui Yu! Cui Yu! You really are my little treasure! Thank you, thank you so much, I—”
The boy’s face was flushed with excitement, close enough to touch. Cui Yu didn’t know what had happened to make him so happy. The lonely shadow in his eyes instantly vanished. He pressed his lips together, smiled faintly, and, lowering his gaze, his voice was low and husky.
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