Chapter 136: Han Shu’s Whereabouts

“That’s right.” Yuan Jiang nodded gravely. “News from the Netherworld says that King of Youdu, Han Shu, has been missing for quite some time—almost half a year now. The entire Youling Domain is currently without a ruler.”

“That’s impossible!” The old man immediately objected. “The incident in West City, and that gu master’s affair—those happened just a few months ago!” It hadn’t even been half a year yet. That proved that the fake Han Shu had still been active in the Netherworld back then.

“Exactly.” Yuan Jiang’s brows furrowed even tighter, his expression darkening. “My junior brother and I both personally saw that man—his aura and appearance were identical to Han Shu’s. Yet the Netherworld claims that during those six missing months, some underworld functionary may have issued orders in Han Shu’s name, causing all the confusion.”

“So basically…” Yun Jiao’s expression hardened as she concluded coldly, “the imposter escaped, and the Netherworld is just covering it up by making excuses?”

A simple “a subordinate overstepped his authority” was apparently enough to brush everything aside—while not a single real clue about the fake Han Shu was provided.

“As expected of you, Little Martial Niece—you see straight through it.” Yuan Jiang smiled bitterly and nodded, though soon his eyes darkened again. “But the Netherworld is complicated. Though there are seven domains and seven Yamas, each rules their own territory without interfering with the others. Now that Han Shu has had an accident, and since we can’t personally enter the Netherworld to investigate, even if the other Yamas try, they may not uncover the truth.”

Yun Jiao frowned slightly. “Then why not ask the King of the Underworld?” If the second-in-command couldn’t find out, why not go to the first? Wasn’t the King of the Underworld the ultimate authority?

Her question stunned both Yuan Jiang and Wen Qing. They exchanged a glance before Wen Qing explained slowly, “Little Martial Niece, you may not know—the King of the Underworld, though nominally ruler of the Netherworld, is completely different from the Yamas and ghost officials. He never involves himself in daily affairs, appearing only when something threatens the very existence of the realm. Moreover… rumor has it he fell into slumber a thousand years ago, and has yet to awaken.”

“Oh.”

So basically, the King of the Underworld was a hands-off boss who didn’t bother with anything. That meant this investigation was stuck for now.

“Don’t worry, Little Martial Niece,” Wen Qing said solemnly. “We’ll get to the bottom of this.”

“…” Yun Jiao gave him a slow once-over, eyes narrowing slightly. The last time she’d trusted him to “get to the bottom” of something, not only had he found nothing—he’d almost dragged her down with him.

Wen Qing: “…”

Why did it feel like she was judging him? No, no—that had to be his imagination.

“Oh right, Little Martial Niece!” Wen Qing suddenly seemed to remember something. Rubbing his hands together with an awkward grin, he said, “I have a favor to ask. Your Senior Brother Han’s current condition requires a place with strong yin energy to cultivate. The Netherworld would be ideal, but as you know, with the enemy still unknown, it’s far too dangerous for him to return now. I was thinking of finding another safe place to settle him, but that will take some time, so I was wondering if he could, um, maybe…”

“You want to keep him in the cellar?” Yun Jiao said flatly.

“Exactly!” Wen Qing nodded at once. “Just for a while! As soon as I find a suitable place, we’ll leave immediately.”

Yun Jiao didn’t particularly mind—after all, that “icebox” had been quite useful. She was just about to nod when—

“No.”

A cold voice cut through the air. A flash of white light appeared, and the Ancestor Master himself materialized in the room—Ye Yuan, in his ever-pristine snow-white robes, face expressionless… and holding in his arms a perfectly round, plump jar.

Both Wen Qing and Yuan Jiang froze for a second before joy flashed across their faces. They hadn’t expected their Master to appear suddenly. They immediately stood and knelt with utmost respect.

“Disciple greets Master!”

Their movements were crisp, their expressions devout—like they were performing some sacred ritual.

Yun Jiao, used to only greeting him casually, blinked. “…”

Bai Yu, also accustomed to their informal interactions: “…”

Should they… be kneeling too? This felt awkwardly out of sync.

“Mm.” Ye Yuan merely gave a faint acknowledgment, then took a few steps forward and sat down beside Yun Jiao. His cool gaze swept over the two kneeling men, overflowing with visible disdain. Only after a long pause did he finally speak in a low, chilly tone.

“Those two disciples of yours may be ghost cultivators, but they do not belong in the mortal realm. They should return to where they came from.”

Still lingering here… what, were they planning to steal away his apprentice now?

(╰_╯)#

“But, Master…” Wen Qing tried to protest weakly.

Ye Yuan’s gaze snapped toward him like a whip. “That goes for you two as well.”

The disdain in his eyes was practically screaming: Get back to the upper realm.

Wen Qing and Yuan Jiang immediately wilted. Their hearts ached. They wanted to cry.

Meanwhile, Yun Jiao, unaware of the dangerous undercurrent, spoke up to mediate. “Ancestor Master, Han Shu’s lost all his cultivation. Returning to the Netherworld right now would be too dangerous.”

Ye Yuan’s face grew even colder. The air temperature around them seemed to drop by several dozen degrees.

“You want to keep him here forever?”

Seven words, but each one sharp enough to freeze blood—chilling, laced with something that wasn’t quite anger but definitely carried… resentment?

Almost like she wasn’t talking about protecting a wounded soul, but about keeping some “stray man” under her roof.

Even Wen Qing, Yuan Jiang, and the old man all instinctively took a step back.

Yun Jiao, oblivious as ever, answered sincerely, “Not necessarily. I just wanted to ask if Ancestor Master knows of any safe place where Han Shu could cultivate in peace.”

It wasn’t really convenient for him to keep acting as a living refrigerator forever.

The oppressive air finally lightened. Ye Yuan’s brows furrowed slightly—this time in genuine thought. After a long moment, he spoke.

“Why not send him to the Mingfen Realm?”

Mingfen Realm? What’s that?

Before Yun Jiao could ask, Wen Qing and Yuan Jiang both reacted instantly.

“Master, do you mean… to Senior Brother Longchang?”

“Mm.” Ye Yuan nodded. That was his first disciple—the one who wasn’t entirely hopeless.

Senior Brother? Wait—that was Xi Teng’s master!

Yun Jiao suddenly remembered. Xi Teng had mentioned his teacher before—someone who resided in the Netherworld, though he himself was an immortal, not a ghost cultivator. Why an immortal would choose to live there, she had no idea.

Beside her, Yuan Jiang’s face brightened. “Master is right. If it’s Senior Brother, Han Shu will be safe there.” Then his expression faltered as a thought crossed his mind. He glanced at Wen Qing, and both of them exchanged a look filled with unspoken dread.

They both remembered the same rugged, broad-faced man—and shuddered simultaneously.

Sending Han Shu there… should be fine, right?

…Right?

———

(End of Chapter)