Chapter 325 - Lady Lingsu

"Did the Red-Haired Ghost chase after you?" Chen Shi stood up, pacing back and forth with curiosity. "What is the background of the Young Master? Why is he searching for the Three-Life Stone? Miss, you were previously tasked with guarding me. Do you know anything about this Young Master?" The boatwoman shook her head. "We Yinchai (underworld messengers) take orders from the Netherworld Commander, the Commander takes orders from the Judge, and the Judge from the King of Yanluo. I've never heard of any Young Master." Chen Shi inquired further, "Who ordered you to imprison my mother and me?" Boatwoman replied, "The Netherworld Commander's orders." "And the Netherworld Commander?" "He's dead." A shadow passed over the boatwoman's face. "Chen Yindu stormed Xiandu and rescued you. We couldn't defeat Chen Yindu, so we went to seek the Netherworld Commander, only to find him deceased. Next, we sought the Judge, only to discover he was also dead. My father and I went to find Qingyang Lord, but he had disappeared too. We were cornered, knowing losing you meant certain death, so we immediately abandoned our corporeal forms and fled to the realm of the living." Chen Shi was startled. His demise had occurred eleven years prior, and he was likely imprisoned here between three to eleven years ago—no more than eight years, perhaps around five. In those short five years, a cataclysm had occurred in the underworld: the Netherworld Commander, the Judge, and even the King of Yanluo had either died or vanished! A burly female yaksha approached, holding a wine cup, her eyes bleary with intoxication. Her gaze flirtatiously lingered on Chen Shi. "If you fancy me, drink this cup." Chen Shi gently raised a hand, lightly pushing the female yaksha until she flew backwards, crashing through a wall and disappearing into the distance. Chen Shi stood there, lost in thought. "When Grandpa, accompanied by Grandma Sha, Uncle Qingyang, and others, came to the underworld to rescue me, they also discovered severe unrest here. The underworld was wrought with violent conflicts, leaving countless dead and wounded. Apparently, significant events unfolded during that period. No, it must have been an even longer period!" The Three Corpses Spirits saw him knocking the female yaksha aside and exchanged puzzled looks. How was such peerless beauty not to his liking? Chen Shi suddenly recalled that Zhong Kui and Tie Chi reincarnated over twenty years ago. This indicated upheaval in the underworld had begun more than two decades prior! "But the Tongue-Plucking Hell Incident occurred over fourteen hundred years ago, a war likely spanning longer than I imagined. Never mind all that! My sole purpose here is to rescue my mother!" Resolving himself, Chen Shi thought silently, "Tomorrow, I will find an opportunity to rescue my mother, everything else be damned!" He relaxed, joining the female yakshas at the brothel in revelry, dancing and singing with an exceptional joy. Seeing this, Peng Jue, Peng Zhi, and Peng Ju also celebrated heartily, convinced their plan had succeeded. As dawn approached, the Three Corpses Gods transformed into a gust of underworld wind, vanishing without a trace, leaving Chen Shi to settle the bill. Chen Shi paid the tab and returned to Yuancheng Palace. Opening the front hall, he found it void of Peng Jue. Checking the other two side halls, he discovered no trace of the two other Corpses Gods. Apparently, the Three Corpses Gods would only appear at night. Chen Shi retrieved some food he had stashed earlier from a small temple and satisfied his hunger before setting out. With Heiguo at his side, he followed the boatwoman, traversing the celestial streets. Xiandu in the daylight felt far more desolate than at night. The celestial streets were devoid of people, populated instead by ghosts and monsters. The lower tier consisted of small yakshas, ox-headed demons, or horse-faced demons, begging for work or engaged in dirty and laborious tasks. In addition to them were the larger yakshas like Chen Shi and other monstrous creatures, but they could not be considered true spirits or deities. Only those who receive official positions in the underworld, becoming Yinchai, worshipped by incense offerings, are regarded as genuine deities. Without incense, they are simply monsters. As Chen Shi walked the celestial streets, he observed the endless expanse of Yuancheng Palace stretching before him, its vastness greatly awe-inspiring. How expansive was Xiandu, truly? Had anyone ever reached the city's edge? "The Yuancheng Palaces of all people from Xiniu Xinzou are here," the boatwoman said. "Every moment someone dies, yet simultaneously, someone is born. Yuancheng Palaces vanish and are created constantly." Chen Shi gazed upwards at the endless Yuancheng Palace, where enormous Primordial Spirits stood, majestic like deities—only the stronger cultivators manifested such spirits. Despite the rarity of these spirits, with only one appearing among hundreds of thousands of Yuancheng Palaces, their presence was incredibly overwhelming. Witnessing this, Chen Shi grasped the little yaksha's words. "The little yaksha mentioned how the Yuancheng Palace mirrors human bodies. They're eerily precise! Each Yuancheng Palace appears as a reflection of a human body housed within the underworld. In the human realm, this Primordial Spirit resides in the physical form. Still, here it resides within Yuancheng Palace. The Three Corpses Gods are spirits formed from human impurities and desires." Chen Shi had come to some understanding. During the day, reason prevails, guided by the Primordial Spirit, thus the Three Corpses Gods remain dormant. At night, when reason recedes and moonlight influences, the Three Corpses Gods assert control. In dreams, where logic fades, the Three Corpses Gods can take the souls of those they attach themselves to into Xiandu's wine land, leading them astray. In essence, Xiandu is the embodiment of countless bodies and dreams within the underworld. Countless deities and spirits rely on this version of Xiandu for their existence. "There's more mystical profundity here, but essentially it's like that." Chen Shi glanced around, surveying the vast and ethereal Xiandu—a wondrous anomaly. Unbeknownst to him, they had wandered back to the same courtyard the Red-Haired Ghost entered the previous night. Beyond the courtyard stood innumerable ranks of small yakshas, several hundred lined up orderly. Each small yaksha bore rods or forks, carrying their belongings, which usually consisted of a cloth bag filled with stale food or paper money, and moved forward lethargically. Chen Shi approached to inquire. One small yaksha replied, "The master of this place is hosting a banquet and hiring some diligent small yakshas for odd jobs, offering excellent pay. We came to try our luck. They don't require larger yakshas like you, so queuing won't help." Chen Shi smiled, "I'm merely passing through, not here to compete for jobs. Do you know the name or lineage of the master of this place?" "Not at all." Chen Shi asked a few small yakshas, but none knew the name of the courtyard's master. Following the boatwoman and Heiguo, Chen Shi bypassed the courtyard. This courtyard was staggeringly large compared to the other Yuancheng Palaces, spanning for miles. Behind the courtyard loomed utter darkness, bordered by a celestial street suspended in the shadows—only the faint outline of a Yuancheng Palace stood in the distant gloom, void of other Yuancheng Palaces in sight. The courtyard's front and back appeared like separate worlds. "When we came last time, it was to rescue your mother in this Yuancheng Palace," the boatwoman said. Chen Shi scrutinized the surroundings, his mind stirred slightly as he formed a Five-Thunder Talisman from Qi and Blood within the darkness. The moment the talisman sparked, an enormous creature, stretching dozens of miles and coiled around the Yuancheng Palace, emerged from the shadows! Flanking the path were countless flatboats, each with a horse-faced deity onboard, either standing or sitting, some lounged under bamboo hats floating within the darkness, like drifting along a river. As the talisman's light burst, Chen Shi turned to leave. The horse-faced deities on the flatboats awakened, their eyes casting over to where the lightning had flared. They held glowing child-deities lanterns, their lights like arrows lighting up the world. Beams of light converged, shattering the Five-Thunder Talisman! Once the lightning revealed it was merely the talisman, the horse-faced deities shifted their gaze toward Chen Shi's last location, but he was already gone. The beams of light withdrew, leaving only their bright eyes within the shadows. Suddenly, behind those eyes, not far, a gigantic eye, with a monstrous iris tens of feet wide, opened, a ring of demonic fire simmering around it. It was a giant hound, nestled in the dark, encircling Chen Shi's mother's Yuancheng Palace. Now the hound stirred, and the regiment of horse-faced Yinchai fretted. "The Huodou is awake! The Huodou is awake!" At that moment, a towering crimson figure descended into the darkness, landing on the path to the Yuancheng Palace, its red hair fluttering. It was the Red-Haired Ghost, who bellowed, "Why all the ruckus?" Seeing the hound awaken, his expression shifted and he hastily produced a talisman, which flew to affix on the hound’s forehead. The hound roared fiercely, shaking the Yinchai off their feet, even making the Red-Haired Ghost unsteady for a moment before he regained balance. The giant hound sank back into slumber. The Red-Haired Ghost exhaled in relief and scrutinized the surroundings, demanding, "What happened just now?" One of the Yinchai recounted the Five-Thunder Talisman incident. The Red-Haired Ghost’s eyes flickered. "A Five-Thunder Talisman? Seems the last incident isn't truly resolved. Someone is stirring trouble. Stay vigilant. I'll inform the Young Master." "Yes, sir." The Red-Haired Ghost returned to the courtyard, finding its interior a serene landscape of clear rivers and gentle hills—a paradise, even in the underworld. He approached the hall, where the Young Master was hosting a visitor. Shortly, a woman in palace robes emerged, nodding slightly toward him. "Greetings, Lady Lingsu!" The Red-Haired Ghost hurriedly returned the bow. Once Lady Lingsu departed, he entered the hall to report the incident to the Young Master. The Young Master was taken aback. "A Five-Thunder Talisman? The intruder isn't an underworld spirit, but a living being. Underworld spirits don't use talismans like that." He was an elegant young gentleman. Any acquaintance of Xiang Tianyu from three decades ago would be astonished, as he hadn’t aged a day, seeming untouched by time. The Young Master stood, chuckling, "It seems Chen Shi has arrived." The Red-Haired Ghost was startled. "He dares return to the underworld after creating so much chaos?" The Young Master smirked. "Yet here he is. Immediately seal off Chen Shi's Yuancheng Palace! With nowhere else to go in Xiandu, he'll surely head back there." The Red-Haired Ghost was about to leave when the Young Master stopped him. "Also, spy on his Three Corpses Spirits. They're unpredictable but will eventually reveal his whereabouts." The Red-Haired Ghost acknowledged and swiftly departed. Chen Shi, the boatwoman, and Heiguo distanced themselves rapidly. Once far from the courtyard, they paused. Chen Shi frowned, "With such tight security, rescuing Mother is impossible! Especially with that colossal creature in the shadows—it’s beyond formidable, no match for us!" "Woof!" Heiguo barked. Chen Shi nodded. The creature was likely Heiguo's kin, but a mature and mighty one. The boatwoman fretted. "Last time, when my father and I visited, there weren't so many spirits guarding. The security's been increased. What now?" Chen Shi halted, surveying the scene. Everywhere, Xiandu teemed with spirits. Rescuing someone would be hazardous. Only by bringing the person into the mortal realm immediately upon rescue would they have a chance to escape. Just then, a chariot passed by, only to stop, its window opening. Inside, a woman in palace robes glanced at Heiguo. Heiguo returned the gaze, while the woman smiled faintly. "You naughty dog." Heiguo was alarmed. She wasn't influenced by him! Chen Shi was vigilant. Few in existence were not affected by Heiguo's ability, and they were typically formidable! She then surveyed Chen Shi and the boatwoman, who were disguised as yakshas, and chuckled, "Sha Qiutong's transformation technique has become this refined? Even I can’t discern your true forms." Chen Shi and the boatwoman shuddered. In terror, the boatwoman stomped, turning into a gust of underworld wind and vanishing—leaving Chen Shi and Heiguo behind. The woman in palace attire was unconcerned, shifting her attention to Chen Shi with a curious look. "Why don't you flee?" Chen Shi replied honestly, "I don’t know how." The woman giggled, "Can't return to the mortal realm? Yet you still dared venture here? Such bravery! They’re waiting at your Yuancheng Palace, so don't go back." Chen Shi asked urgently, "Miss, why are you telling me this?" Her laughter was uncontrollable, "Just like your grandfather, sweet-talking me. Don’t call me a girl, address me as Lady Lingsu, or Chen Yindu will chide me for acting young." Chen Shi bowed, "Greetings, Lady Lingsu." Lady Lingsu inquired, "Is your grandfather well?" Chen Shi grew somber, "Grandfather... has passed." Lady Lingsu was taken aback briefly, then rejoiced. "He’s finally dead? Heaven be praised! Now I can keep him all to myself!" Enthusiastic, she instructed the coachman to veer toward Chen Yindu’s Yuancheng Palace, exclaiming, "Chen Yindu, in life, you had too many lady companions. Now, at last, you're mine alone!" Chen Shi was left speechless, quickly catching up. "Lady Lingsu, could you take me to Grandfather's Yuancheng Palace?" Lady Lingsu paused the carriage, laughing, "Get in!" Chen Shi boarded, with Heiguo following behind. Inside the chariot was expansive, resembling a small palace. Clouds served as futons, glowing mist became tables and chairs. They could see outside, but the outside world couldn’t see in. Chen Shi sat cross-legged on a cloud-futon. Ahead, he glimpsed the coachman—a skeleton—and the steeds, two bone dragons guiding the chariot into the sky, cruising through the streets as an endless line of Yuancheng Palaces blurred past. Chen Shi glanced back, seeing Heiguo keeping stride with the chariot, which eased his mind. He turned his gaze to Lady Lingsu—a resplendent woman in palace robes, slightly plump and gracious, with a vibrant primordial spirit. Gathering his resolve, Chen Shi politely asked, "Lady Lingsu, are you my grandmother?" Lady Lingsu’s visage darkened. Sneering, she retorted, "No. All I want to know is who that little harlot is!" ------