What Was There to Fear? Our Banners Point the Vanguard's Way; a Hundred Thousand March into the Netherworld to Slay Its King

Qian Yao quickly typed several more lines on her phone.

"Girl, what on earth are you doing? Answer me already! I'd ditch work to go with you and rub it in his face. Let him learn that a woman can wait ten years for revenge. We should think of something to say that'll leave that smug, handsome freeloader-uh, no, broke bastard now-full of regret, frustration, and shame!"

"Hmm, how about this? I, Yun Qing, am a phoenix in the heavens, while you're a stray dog by the roadside now. If I hadn't happened to pass by, I wouldn't even spare you a glance. Hmph!!"

"Wouldn't that feel good? Or we could pretend to run into him by chance, look him up and down with contempt, then stare coldly for a moment and walk away. That would teach him what it means to not appreciate you back then and not even deserve another word from you now!"

"Just thinking about it feels great. Hmph, serves that pretty boy right for always looking so lazy, like he'd seen through everything. Who did he think he was? Damn, I still remember him looking at me and chuckling, 'Little punk girls sure know how to have fun.' No beauty worth her salt would let that insult go unavenged!"

"Reply, reply! Let's go rub it in his face together!"

After finishing her messages, she raised her head and sighed.

"Disappearing, going into seclusion, cutting yourselves off from the world-why are you all so good at putting on airs?"

"I just dress to express myself, and you always laugh at me. You're actually even bigger show-offs than I am!"

"Hmph, every last one of you. If I told you who I really was, wouldn't you all be green with envy and bow down to me? Hehe! Another chance to show off and make you eat your words."

Who knew where she got all those complaints and wild ideas?

Coming back to her senses, she chewed her gum and watched the touching display of affection between Old Che and the old yellow dog.

She pouted.

"Old Che, I already told you. Fifty million, final offer. How about selling Old Huang to me? Your family would be financially set for life. And I'll pay the medical bills."

Old Che smiled awkwardly without answering. He had no interest in trading barbs with a young girl.

Old Huang, however, barked at her several times.

Qian Yao looked at Old Huang, then at Director Yan and Old Zhang, who looked ready to reprimand her.

"Okay, okay, I'll stop. Let's go, everyone. Let's see what kind of secret realm this is. Hmph, watch these divine eyes of mine pierce through all illusions like lightning!"

As she finished speaking, her eyes seemed to grow darker, and a certain presence enveloped her. Anyone looking into her eyes would have felt as though they were being drawn into an endless vortex, unable to escape.

Then Qian Yao's habitual chatter started up again.

"Don't worry too much, everyone. Maybe those people stumbled into a spirit realm like Old Huang and blundered their way into some lucky encounter."

"Even dumb dogs have their lucky days. Anyway, if it really is some dangerous, sinister realm, they've probably already been swallowed up. Old Huang, make sure you protect the cutest girl on the team later!!"

Several more barks answered her.

Even dumb dogs have their lucky days?

Who are you calling dumb?

Besides, Old Huang glanced over the studs in her face.

Cute? This dog still has normal standards of beauty!

"Woof, woof, woof..."

With those loud barks, some inexplicable sound wave seemed to spread into the tunnel, making the lights a little brighter.

Then the dog exchanged a glance with his owner. Man and dog understood each other, as though some bond connected them.

Together, they strode after the punk girl who could see through yin and yang, heading into the tunnel.

From behind, the dog looked like a yellow lion!

The woman also looked into the dim tunnel and gritted her teeth!

She produced a pellet drum from somewhere.

"Thump, thump, thump, thump..."

She beat it as she danced:

"Ee-ya, ee-ya, the sun sets beyond the western hills, and darkness draws near... Birds seek shelter in the mountain woods, tigers return to the hills in peace. Seven-star glazed tiles above my head, eight-sided purple-gold bricks beneath my feet. My feet upon the earth, my head beneath the sky. With great strides I circle round, both feet planted firmly by the camp. With all sincerity I invite the spirits, invite the King of Sorrow into my body. I offer myself as a wandering spirit, the King of Sorrow is the sky..."

As she sang and danced, the Hundred-Year-Old Locust Heartwood at her chest seemed to pulse along with her.

Then her body seemed to turn slightly blue-black, her skin taking on the look of blue steel, giving her a cold, inhuman air.

The woman raised her head and fearfully glanced at the daylight around her. She seemed deeply uncomfortable, like an ice pop slowly melting, and hurried after the two people and dog ahead.

Next, the major they called Old Zhang straightened his imposing frame and followed them.

Director Yan's voice came from behind him. "You may be fearless and unafraid of ghosts, but you still lack experience with the supernatural. Listen to the other three."

Major Zhang paused.

Then he strode onward.

"Ha! We soldiers have wills of iron amid the smoke of war. Our banners point the vanguard's way; a hundred thousand march into the Netherworld to slay its king. Even if we die fighting a hundred battles in a land of ghosts, what is there to fear!"

Watching the four people and one dog disappear into the tunnel, Director Yan remained where he was.

He stood still.

Worry and pride mingled in his eyes, along with countless emotions he could not name.

"The descendants of Yan and Huang abound in talent, and extraordinary people emerge across our land. Even if the world changes, the Netherworld returns, and strange domains spring into being, I believe we can weather it safely, adapt, and grow stronger!"

The secretary beside him stepped closer.

He offered reassurance:

"Director Yan, don't worry too much. When that weird realm suddenly appeared in France, in Europe, a town of three thousand people fell into the legendary Count Dracula's Domain. In the end, they still rescued most of them and wiped out some of the ghosts. They aren't invincible."

Director Yan nodded, then shook his head.

"Yes, they aren't invincible... But this time, France used saturation bombardment. What about next time? The laws of our physical universe are changing, and guns and artillery are showing signs of becoming scrap metal!"

"The universe is beginning to reveal its true reality!"

"That's why we should avoid using guns and artillery whenever possible. Otherwise, if they suddenly stop working one day, everyone will be left at a complete loss!"

After speaking, he looked toward the tunnel.

The others had already vanished from sight.

"A valiant soldier with boundless courage and an iron will, Yin-Yang Eyes that see through both realms and pierce illusions, a Beast Tamer whose roar sends ghosts fleeing, and a Spirit Medium Disciple who enshrines a ghost!"

"Our Third Bureau Southwest Office finally has the beginnings of a framework. We've truly begun making contact with the third kind!"

He looked up at the sun.

At that moment, white clouds obscured it.

Somehow, as he thought about the changing world and the future, even the sunlight no longer seemed so warm.

Even beneath its rays, he felt little warmth.

"Who knows whether the future will be an age of prosperity or a world of ghost tales?"

After that sigh, his eyes grew steady again.

"No matter what happens, our Dragon Country, our land of Huaxia, will never have its backbone broken!!"

He looked at his secretary.

"Once this is over, keep searching for extraordinary people and phenomena. Build a dependable force to prepare for the changes ahead!"

"Yes, sir!!"

Yun Qing held her phone.

She looked at the messages coming in.

There was a long string of them, most from one particularly fiery girl.

Reading those words, she could almost picture that girl laughing smugly with her hands on her hips, as though telling someone, "So this day finally came for you too."

She could not help shaking her head, making her black braid sway with an indescribably bright, youthful charm.

Looking at Qian Yao's messages, her smooth, fair face, round as a jade plate, wore a smile that was both amused and rueful.

"Someone really does hold a grudge. She seems so carefree on the surface, but she's actually incredibly sensitive."

"Just like the books say, women are hard to deal with. A Zhe teased you once, and now you're proving a woman can wait ten years for revenge!"

"What goes on in Qian Yao's head all day? I think she's been reading too many broken-engagement novels!"

After muttering to herself, she fell silent.

Worry appeared on her face.

She hurried to search the news again.

After a while, she patted her full chest beneath her plain robes.

"Thank goodness. As long as he's safe, that's all that matters. He can always earn the money back. Besides, in a world undergoing changes like these, nothing is better than living safely and peacefully!"

She recalled an old memory.

A little girl had twisted her ankle on the grass and was sobbing when a little boy appeared. He looked like a tiny adult, his hands behind his back and disdain on his face, as though he were looking at a troublesome child.

In the end, he crouched down. "Come on, I'll carry you!!"

After that, they became innocent childhood sweethearts.

Tenderness crossed her face as she remembered.

Then it gave way to helpless bitterness.

It had been a bright afternoon.

"Brother Gu, A Zhe, I think I like you. Could you be my..."

"No!!"

"Why?"

"Uh, we know each other too well!"

"Isn't that a good thing?"

"We know each other so well, I'd be too embarrassed to take your pants off!!"

Recalling that, she shook her head.

"What a hopelessly clueless man!"