Legend Management Bureau Chapter 96

[ … words ]

“Xie Jin?” Du Yu finally saw his savior. “How could I have forgotten? You and Fan Xiaoguo are also members of the Black and White Impermanence!”

Xie Jin smiled when she saw Du Yu turn around. “It really is you! Good thing I followed along after seeing the summons, otherwise you would have been in real trouble today.”

Fan Tu looked at Xie Jin’s expression and asked, “Sister Jin, do you know this man?”

“I do. Everyone, stand down,” Xie Jin declared. “This is Du Yu, an Operator from the Legend Administration.”

“An Operator from the Legend Administration?” Fan Tu froze for a moment before directly summoning his magical artifact. “If I remember correctly, the one who injured our ancestors was He Suoyi from the Legend Administration. And you still have the nerve to show your face in the Hall of Impermanence?!”

“Huh?!” Du Yu was taken aback. “That’s not how it works. He Suoyi was the one who hurt the Seventh and Eighth Lords, not me. Every debt has its debtor. If you’re all so hot-blooded, why don’t you go fight He Suoyi?”

Xie Jin hurriedly stepped forward and blocked Fan Tu. “Fan Tu, you need to think clearly. The two ancestors were injured while trying to help Du Yu. If you hurt him, how will you explain yourself?”

“This…” The boy in black hesitated visibly, then gritted his teeth and said, “Even if I do not attack him, I absolutely will not allow him to see the ancestors.”

Du Yu’s temper flared the more he listened. He marched right up and snapped, “As a man, you need to take responsibility for your words. Who said I wanted to see your ancestors? I came to see Sister Qianqiu, Cui Jue, Zhong Kui, the Seventh Lord, and the Ox-Head and Horse-Face Gold and Silver Generals. I am specifically ignoring Fan Wujiu. If he asks about it later, you can explain it to him yourself.”

Du Yu turned his head to address the crowd. “Everyone here is a witness. Hearing that the Seventh and Eighth Lords were injured, I immediately came to visit. Not only was I harassed by these two for half the day, but they absolutely refuse to let me catch even a glimpse of them. I, Du Yu, have done my due diligence. Since you won’t let me see them, I will be taking my leave!”

Du Yu pushed past the people behind him, intending to leave, but Xie Jin grabbed his arm.

“Du Yu, if you leave like this, they will be in massive trouble,” Xie Jin whispered to him. “Why don’t we all take a step back?”

Du Yu was naturally just talking tough in the heat of the moment. He definitely couldn’t afford a complete falling out with the Black and White Impermanence. Seeing Xie Jin offer an out, he could only ride the current and do her a favor.

“Wouldn’t it have been fine if things were like this from the start? How could I possibly announce the confidential matters I discussed with the Eight Great Netherworld Emissaries to all of you?”

The burly man in white also whispered to the boy in black, “Fan Tu, let it go. He is an Operator, after all, and the ancestors even had you send him gifts back then. It wouldn’t be good to let things turn sour now. Moreover, Xie Jin has stepped forward personally. You might ignore my words, but you have to give her some face.”

Fan Tu pondered for a long time before he finally let out a cold snort and put away his magical artifact.

“Everyone, disperse!” Xie Jin turned back to address the crowd. “The Black and White Impermanence is a crucial position in the Underworld. You must not slack off.”

Du Yu stared blankly at Xie Jin, not expecting her to hold such status among the Black and White Impermanence.

Hearing her words, the gathered Impermanence guards dispersed on their own, leaving only Fan Tu, Xie Sha, Du Yu, and Xie Jin in the courtyard.

“You two brothers should go as well. Remember this man’s face in the future. You are the commanders of the Impermanence Guard, after all. You need to learn how to assess a situation properly and not arbitrarily summon the guards from all directions.”

“You are absolutely right, Sister Xie Jin!” The burly man in white stepped forward with an apologetic smile. “Next time, we will be sure to ask clearly.”

Fan Tu, however, merely snorted coldly, turned on his heel, and walked away.

“Du Yu, come with me,” Xie Jin said. “Xiaoguo has official duties today and cannot accompany you for now. You will just have to make do with me.”

“Uh?” Du Yu was taken aback. “Make do? What kind of talk is that? You two Emissary sisters have taken care of me in so many ways since I arrived in the Underworld, and today you saved my life. I should be the one thanking you.”

“Pfft,” Xie Jin chuckled. “What is it? After entering legends a few times, has your way of speaking become so cultured and refined?”

“Ah? I…”

“I am just teasing you,” Xie Jin laughed softly, covering her mouth. “It is just that I usually see you and Sister Xiaoguo getting along so well. I was afraid she would be unhappy if I rashly kept you company.”

Xie Jin spoke as she led Du Yu forward.

“You make it sound as if we are a couple…” Du Yu felt a bit dazed. “I only had her act as my driver a few times…”

Xie Jin smiled and shook her head, dropping the subject. She then asked, “By the way, what was that about a vengeful spirit they mentioned?”

“Sigh, that vengeful spirit is…” Du Yu paused, suddenly recalling Xie Bi’an’s previous warning never to let anyone know about Yingning’s abilities. He could only sigh and say, “It is just as I said before. She is pretty, so I have been carrying her around with me and summoning her just to look at her when I have nothing better to do.”

“Ah…” Xie Jin’s mouth fell open in surprise. “I really could not tell you were that kind of person…”

“I…” Du Yu could only offer a series of bitter smiles. “You can’t judge a book by its cover. You really can’t judge a book by its cover.”

After winding their way through the complex, the two arrived at the rear courtyard. In the center of numerous black and white buildings stood a massive three-story structure. With its white walls and black roof tiles, it shone brilliantly.

Xie Jin reached out to stop Du Yu, then stepped forward and knocked on the door. A moment later, a girl in white peeked her head out.

“Sister Xie Jin? Aren’t you on official business? Why did you come back?”

Xie Jin smiled faintly and replied, “I came back on official business as well. The Operator wishes to see the ancestors.”

“The Operator?” The girl looked past Xie Jin and saw a young man standing there. She thought for a moment before saying, “In that case, come in quickly…”

Xie Jin turned and gave Du Yu a subtle nod before leading him inside.

As soon as Du Yu entered the room, he saw the Ox-Head, Horse-Face, and the Gold and Silver Generals sitting in meditation. Their foreheads were beaded with sweat, their figures looked weak, and their brows were slightly furrowed.

A young boy holding a silver furnace was busily casting spells around them.

“This…” Du Yu looked at the scene before him with hesitation. “What are they doing? And who is this boy?”

“They are repairing their souls. This child is a fairy boy serving under the Supreme Venerable Sovereign, known as the Silver Furnace Boy,” Xie Jin explained. “Their souls were not severely injured, but they remain somewhat delirious.”

Xie Jin led Du Yu further inside to a second room. The spiritual energy fluctuations here were significantly stronger than in the previous room. Cui Jue, Zhong Kui, Xie Bi’an, and Fan Wujiu were all meditating here. Their bodies pulsed with a radiant light. Sitting in front of them was another boy holding a golden furnace. The golden furnace hovered slowly in mid-air, emitting wisps of medicinal fragrance.

Black energy swirled across the faces of the four Netherworld Emissaries. It seemed their souls were not just injured, but had even been tainted by a trace of demonic energy.

Du Yu was just about to speak when the Golden Furnace Boy stopped him.

“We are at a critical juncture. Say no more.”

Du Yu nodded, afraid of interrupting their energy circulation.

Xie Jin, however, let out a soft snort of laughter and whispered to Du Yu, “Don’t let the diligent and hardworking appearance of these Gold and Silver Boys fool you. A few hundred years ago, they stirred up quite a massive storm.”

“These two?” Du Yu was stunned. He thought to himself that these kids looked even younger than Nezha. What kind of storm could they possibly stir up?

“A few centuries ago, they transformed into the Gold Horn and Silver Horn, stole the Heavenly Lord’s magical artifacts, and nearly ate Tang Xuanzang.”

“Ah!” Du Yu suddenly remembered. “The legendary Great King Gold Horn and Great King Silver Horn?”

“Exactly.”

Du Yu found it astonishing, but he was preoccupied with a heavier matter and couldn’t dwell on it. He asked softly, “By the way, where is Sister Qianqiu? And the Phantom Demon? Are they not here?”

Xie Jin pondered for a moment before turning to Du Yu. “Du Yu, I heard that Assistant Dong’s injuries are incredibly shocking. You need to brace yourself.”

Du Yu’s heart skipped a beat. “But the injuries of the Eight Great Emissaries don’t look that severe…”

“I do not know the specific reasons. Just follow me.” Xie Jin walked forward in the room and pushed open a concealed small door. Behind it was a pitch-black corridor. “Remember to keep your voice down later.”

After giving Du Yu this instruction, Xie Jin ducked into the corridor.

As the two slowly walked forward, it only took a few steps before they heard a heart-wrenching, agonizing scream.

A chill ran down Du Yu’s spine. That scream distinctly belonged to the usually composed and aloof Sister Qianqiu.

With every step they took, the agonizing scream grew louder.

Du Yu’s hands instantly turned ice-cold. He wanted to rush forward to see Dong Qianqiu, yet his feet hesitated.

‘Sister Qianqiu… just how badly is she hurt…’

Xie Jin let out a slow sigh and said, “If the Celestial Lord of the Dao and its Virtue hadn’t intervened immediately, there would be absolutely no way for Assistant Dong to survive in this world.”

“Since she was saved… why is Sister Qianqiu in such agony?”

Biting her lip, Xie Jin replied, “Xiaoguo and I constantly travel back and forth to the mortal realm to escort the souls of the deceased. I have seen countless gruesome deaths, yet I have never seen such a brutal method of killing. Nor have I ever seen someone endure such horrific injuries without dying. I really do not know if that He Suoyi wanted to scatter Assistant Dong’s soul entirely, or if he just wanted to torture her alive.”

As she spoke, Xie Jin and Du Yu arrived at a small door. She reached out and knocked gently.

A sinister, alluring voice drifted from inside, speaking slowly, “If it is someone from the Legend Administration, bring him in.”

Xie Jin gave a slight nod and pushed the door open.

Du Yu followed her inside.

He slowly raised his head, and with just one glance, he nearly fainted.

The thing before his eyes…

What was it?

Was it human?

Was it Sister Qianqiu?

Dong Qianqiu was hovering naked in mid-air, her body drenched in blood. Every bone in her limbs had fractured in the middle and pierced through her skin. She had to endure both the agony of shattered bones and the piercing pain of thorns. Her abdomen was sliced completely open, and all her ribs were bent backwards, protruding outward. Her entire body no longer resembled a human form; instead, she looked like a hedgehog covered in bone spikes. Her eyes stared blankly ahead, and it was impossible to tell if she was even conscious.

Standing before her was an elderly man with white hair and the ethereal bearing of an immortal. Golden threads, barely visible to the naked eye, wrapped around his hands as he cast a spell over Dong Qianqiu.

“Sister Qianqiu!!!!”

Du Yu roared and tried to rush forward, but a gentle force pushed him back. Turning his head, he saw the Phantom Demon.

“Little brother Du Yu, do not act recklessly. The Supreme Venerable Sovereign is reconnecting all the meridians in her body.” The Phantom Demon sighed and added, “Alas, if Sister Qianqiu had not sacrificed herself to save us, the Eight Great Emissaries and I would no longer exist.”

“Phantom Demon?! You… you’re alright?” Du Yu asked in astonishment.

“Naturally, I am unharmed. That old man He Suoyi injures souls, but unfortunately for him, my constitution is unique—I have no soul to begin with.”

Du Yu stared blankly at Dong Qianqiu and the copious amount of blood pooling on the floor. Unconsciously, his eyes welled up with tears.

“Phantom Demon, what exactly happened back then?” Du Yu gritted his teeth and asked with deep-seated hatred.