Underworld Son

Ning Chen was deeply conflicted—more conflicted than ever before. He had suffered so much, been schemed against so viciously, and had even nearly been trapped to death in the illusion. Now that the treasure was finally right before his eyes, he could not take it.

The pain drove him mad. It was like someone had stabbed him, then insisted on pulling the knife back out in the end.

"Snort."

Little White Horse let out a heavy breath. Its entire body was flushed red, as though it had been boiled alive. Ning Chen was already irritated and had no time to bother with it.

Ding.

The sound of bells rang out. Outside the gates of the Underworld Netherworld, an Underworld Ghost Carriage appeared. Black and White Impermanence leaped thirty feet at a time, drawing near in the blink of an eye.

Ning Chen's heart turned cold. He made a snap decision, grabbed Little White Horse, and left. He did not know who sat within that ghost carriage, but Ox-Head and Horse-Face, Black and White Impermanence—none of them were foes he could handle yet.

Having his head burn hot once was enough. He could not go looking for more suffering.

The main hall of the Underworld Netherworld was enormous. Beyond the altar stood a blood pool thirty feet across. The pool had long since dried up, yet the stench of blood lingered without fading, enough to make one retch.

After the Underworld Ghost Carriage entered the hall, it stopped before the altar. A pair of icy eyes within the carriage stared at the demonic saber and divine sword atop it. Strange syllables emerged from its occupant's lips, seeking to subdue the two divine weapons.

The demonic saber trembled slightly, releasing a blinding blood-red glow as it prepared to fly away. But the divine sword's purple radiance flared brilliantly, suppressing the restless saber. The two divine weapons quivered ceaselessly, as though arguing over something.

In the end, the demonic saber returned to stillness, and the divine sword fell silent as well.

"Hmph."

A cold snort came from within the ghost carriage. Its occupant was clearly deeply dissatisfied with the result. Yet blade and sword possessed spirits; within this Underworld Netherworld, no one could force the two divine weapons to acknowledge a master.

"Ghost Maiden, it has been a long time."

At that moment, a voice of utter yin and evil drifted in from outside the hall. The newcomer was beautiful as a demon, dressed in magnificent robes of purple streaked with crimson. Though his brows and eyes seemed to smile, they carried a chill that made one tremble all over.

"Underworld Son, you actually awakened as well."

The woman's voice within the ghost carriage contained a trace of surprise and anger. She was exceedingly displeased that the handsome man before her had entered the world ahead of time.

"Awakened? Heh, I have always been awake."

Underworld Son took two steps forward and arrived before the altar. He gave an unconcerned, faint smile.

The woman in the carriage ignored the obvious lie. They had all slept for far too long. It was impossible for anyone to have remained awake.

Underworld Son was an aberration of the underworld—powerful and absurd, dazzling people even as he filled them with fear.

"Did you come for the demonic saber as well?"

Underworld Son's awakening was already a fact. Ghost Maiden no longer dwelled on it and instead asked in a low voice.

"If I said no, would you believe me?" Underworld Son's fingers gently stroked the patterns on the demonic saber, a dangerous curve rising at the corner of his mouth. "Still, I know many are interested in it, so I came."

"Madman," Ghost Maiden mocked from within the carriage.

"A madman? I thought Ghost Maiden understood Underworld Son best. What a pity."

Underworld Son pressed a hand to his heart and sighed deeply. A flash of sorrow crossed his demonic face, and his mournful sigh seemed to ache over Ghost Maiden's lack of understanding.

"Abyss, your hypocrisy makes one want to vomit."

Ghost Maiden spoke Underworld Son's true name, her tone dripping with mockery. In this place, there were only the two of them. They knew each other incomparably well, so neither would be moved by such false theatrics.

Underworld Son turned around, his expression growing solemn. He sighed softly. "I have never lied."

Ghost Maiden gave a cold laugh from the carriage. "That sentence is your greatest lie!"

"Underworld Son, do not blame me for failing to warn you. This life is unlike the past. Your absurdity will bring you nothing but death."

With that, Ghost Maiden no longer wished to waste time here. She murmured an incantation. Black and White Impermanence led the way, Ox-Head and Horse-Face carried the carriage, and the Underworld Ghost Carriage slowly departed. Before long, it vanished from sight.

"Death... I am eagerly awaiting it."

Underworld Son gently caressed the demonic saber, streaks of light flashing through his eyes. He allowed its edge to cut open his fingers as though he felt nothing. Thread after thread of blood ran down the blade, making the already cold saber seem three parts more demonic.

The demonic saber did not reject Underworld Son's blood, yet neither did it acknowledge his identity. It merely remained quietly embedded in the altar, its bloodlight flickering as it did not move in the slightest.

Underworld Son silently watched the demonic saber. After a long time, he smiled faintly. "Demonic saber, demonic saber, I shall wait for the day you enter the world. Then I shall see you dye the entire world in the most wondrous shade of blood."

Ning Chen knew nothing of what had happened in the hall. After leaving, he did not look back. He knew perfectly well that the pair of wicked blade and sword were not his. He could neither move nor take them away. Still, he had hidden the wooden boat beside the Weak Water, so no one else would be able to enter either.

Ning Chen was in an exceedingly foul mood, muttering endlessly all the way.

Ning Chen admitted that he was narrow-minded. If he could not have something, then no one else could have it either.

As for whether the person in the ghost carriage could take the blade and sword away, that was beyond his control. Though it irked him greatly, there was truly nothing he could do.

At present, he could not even defeat the Ox-Head and Horse-Face carrying the carriage, much less the person—or ghost—inside it.

Little White Horse was still red all over, even hot to the touch. It truly looked as though it had been boiled.

"Snort." Little White Horse had bitterness it could not voice and grievances it did not dare vent.

Serves you right for eating things at random, Ning Chen thought with glee at its misfortune.

He still harbored considerable resentment over being unable to take the blade and sword. Seeing that Little White Horse would not die anytime soon and would merely suffer for a few days, he stopped paying attention to it.

"Bear with it. Oh, right, where was I?"

After coming out of the illusion, Ning Chen had become far more talkative, constantly babbling. It was not hard to understand. Anyone trapped in an illusion for who knew how many days, months, or years, with not a single living person beside them—not even a cockroach—and only wave after wave of Underworld Soldiers and Underworld Cavalry, would become twisted even if they did not go mad.

Little White Horse was in great pain and basically ignored whatever Ning Chen said. The occasional snort was only because it had grown sick of his rambling and wanted to register a protest.

Unfortunately, Ning Chen did not care about its protest at all.

At this moment, even Little White Horse's protests seemed adorable to him.

Or rather, anything alive was adorable.

Beyond the hall of Netherworld Hell lay a desolate expanse. The ground was riddled with pits, enormous rocks stood scattered at random, and the strange, grotesque terrain stretched beyond sight, sending chills through one's heart.

Ning Chen frowned. He did not like this place. Not only was the yin energy too heavy, but the terrain was difficult to traverse.

He was disabled. Even walking on flat ground took more effort for him than for ordinary people. Now he was expected to cross this bizarre landscape—was this not asking for his life?

Ning Chen looked at Little White Horse and gauged its build. In the end, he gave up on the idea. This fellow did not look as though it had much flesh on its bones. Whether it could carry him was still uncertain. What if it threw him off?

He had broken his leg by falling from a cliff before. If he smashed his face today as well, it would be far too not worth it.

Come to think of it, his life was quite tough. He had not died after jumping off a cliff. Not long after landing, he had apparently crashed into something. Today, he had not died in the illusion either and had been saved by Little White Horse. They said good people did not live long, while disasters lingered for a thousand years. But no matter how he looked at it, he did not seem like a bad person, did he?

The ancients said, the ancients spoke, the ancients had said so many things—it seemed they were bound to be wrong sometimes.

"Little White, do you think I am a good person?"

Ning Chen turned his wheelchair, struggling to climb over a small pit as he asked.

"Snort."

Even though Little White Horse felt awful all over, it could not help expressing its disdain.

"I knew you definitely thought so too."

Ning Chen grinned from ear to ear.

"Snort."

Little White Horse rolled its eyes and stopped paying attention to this shameless human.

"Wait."

Ning Chen's hands suddenly froze. He raised his head and looked over the surrounding terrain, a bad feeling rising within him.

Could this be the legendary Eighteen Hells?

Ning Chen frowned and thought it over again and again. In his previous life, he had not studied many myths and legends, so he could not remember clearly. Beyond the Hall of the Underworld—was it the Eighteen Layers of Hell?

Ning Chen sighed inwardly. One only regretted having read too little when the knowledge was needed—those words were absolutely right. Had he known, he would have read more books about myths and legends in the past.

After walking for who knew how long, man and horse had eaten all the dry rations they carried. Their throats were dry enough to smoke, yet they discovered that this strange place seemed to have no end.

"Little White, we are not going to starve or die of thirst here, are we?"

Ning Chen slowly turned his wheelchair, speaking weakly.

"Snort."

Little White Horse turned its head and snorted, signaling that they could return the way they had come.

Ning Chen fell silent for a moment, then shook his head. He always felt that some terrifying monster was guarding the way behind them, making him unable to entertain the thought of turning back.

"Snort."

Little White Horse continued onward, as if saying that if they would not go back, then they could die together.

"Loyal."

Ning Chen was very satisfied with Little White Horse's attitude. He grinned with difficulty and decided that if he survived, he would treat this fellow a little better.

"Urgh."

After another half day of walking, just as man and horse had both reached the end of their ropes and were nearly out of strength, Ning Chen's body suddenly shuddered in the wheelchair. A pained groan escaped his lips. Within his qi sea, the two Golden Pages, deprived of nourishment from true qi, actually began devouring each other.

"Both of you, behave yourselves!"

Ning Chen flew into a rage and bellowed. At a time like this, these two fellows were actually still fighting among themselves.

Little White Horse jumped in fright and stared at Ning Chen, having no idea what was going on.

The two Golden Pages seemed to be born enemies. While true qi in the dantian qihai had still been plentiful, they could barely coexist. But now that the true qi within had nearly dissipated, the two Golden Pages could no longer maintain peace.

Ning Chen's expression was extremely ugly. He said heavily, "If I die here, you two will be buried with me. You had better both settle down."

Buzz.

The two Golden Pages trembled and hummed, as though they understood. They stopped fighting and gradually calmed down.

"What kind of damned world is this? Even a scrap of paper can become a spirit."

Ning Chen cursed in foul spirits. Then a thought flashed through his mind—a thought so absurd that even he found it ridiculous.

But he had already seen more absurd things than this. Trying once more would make no difference.

He forced the last thread of true qi into the Golden Page he had taken from the altar. Ning Chen focused his mind and said, "Listen carefully. We are grasshoppers tied to the same rope now. Since you came from this Netherworld Hell, you naturally know how to get out. If you do not want to be buried here with me forever, then come out and point us toward a path."

The Golden Page fell silent for a moment. Then it truly flew out of Ning Chen's qi sea. Brilliant golden light burst from the page, its dazzling radiance shining into the distance. Faintly, a huge black fissure could be seen.

"Fuck!"

This time, Ning Chen finally could not hold back his profanity. They had already passed through that place, but there had been no fissure there at the time.

Neigh!

Little White Horse excitedly raised its forehooves and let out the first proper sound of its life, no longer pretending to be mute with its snorts.

Little White Horse ran like the wind, utterly abandoning Ning Chen without a shred of loyalty.

"You ungrateful bastard!"

Ning Chen cursed furiously. Both hands turned the wheelchair as he slowly and unsteadily headed toward the great fissure.

This damned place was really infuriatingly full of potholes...

(PS: During the new book period, favorites, red votes, and rewards are all crucial. I hope friends will give plenty of support! Yan Yu will work hard to update!)