Legend Management Bureau Chapter 341

[ … words ]

Du Yu was taken aback, suddenly realizing that the careless remark made by the Great Emperor of Eastern Mount Tai actually posed a massive problem.

Even if the Black and White Impermanence and the Judges disappeared for just a single day, the entire world would be thrown into chaos.

Resting his chin in his hand, Du Yu frowned slightly.

The Northern Emperor turned his head, casting a cold glance at Du Yu. “How many days do you need the Judges and the Impermanences to disappear?”

“Hmm… about three to five days.”

“Be precise,” the Northern Emperor demanded sternly. “Three days or five days?”

“Three days,” Du Yu replied after a moment of thought. “One day should be enough for Mahakala to kill me, and the remaining two days will give you enough time to make the round trip.”

“If you only need three days, we can operate around that,” the Northern Emperor murmured quietly. “Old Dong, your subordinate Cui Jue manages the Book of Life and Death. Have him alter it so that no one dies within the next three days.”

“How can we do that?!” the Great Emperor of Eastern Mount Tai was stunned. “The death aspect in the Book of Life and Death is predetermined the moment a person is born. Tampering with it will throw the mortal realm into absolute turmoil…”

“What… what kind of nonsense are you spouting?” The Great Emperor of Eastern Mount Tai flushed with anger. “That is our duty. If we handled matters arbitrarily, what would be the point of our eastern division?”

“Don’t get upset.” The Northern Emperor waved his hand dismissively. “Like I said, people who die before their time in the Book of Life and Death are considered a Wrongful Death. So why not just consider those who die after their designated time as living a Wrongful Life?”

“Wrongful Life?!” Du Yu and the Great Emperor of Eastern Mount Tai exclaimed in unison, both entirely taken aback.

“Exactly. They just die three days later. I refuse to believe the entire world will collapse over a measly three days.”

The Great Emperor of Eastern Mount Tai fell deep into thought after hearing the Great Emperor of Beiyin Fengdu’s words.

It was true. For millions of years, they had never let a single person live even one extra day. Thinking about it now, wasn’t that an incredibly cruel practice?

“I understand,” the Great Emperor of Eastern Mount Tai slowly declared as he stood up. “I will treat it as giving all the Impermanences and Judges a three-day vacation. Once they return, everyone will be working overtime.”

The corner of the Northern Emperor’s mouth twitched into a faint smirk. “Exactly. But… there is one more thing.”

“What is it?”

The Northern Emperor patted his robes and surprisingly pulled out a cigarette, lighting it up.

Seeing a man dressed in traditional ancient robes with a cigarette dangling from his lips gave Du Yu a profound sense of cognitive dissonance.

“During these three days, there are bound to be several major criminals scheduled for execution in the mortal realm. They cannot be allowed to die three days late.” Exhaling a cloud of smoke, the Northern Emperor continued, “Those who truly deserve to die, you should just let them die.”

The Great Emperor of Eastern Mount Tai furrowed his brow. “And after they die? Are their souls supposed to just wander the mortal realm for three days?”

“After they die, I will dispatch the Five Regional Ghost Emperors to scatter their souls, ensuring they cannot harm anyone again.”

“This…” The Eastern Emperor’s expression grew solemn. “That doesn’t exactly follow the rules. According to protocol, they must be sent to the Eighteen Levels of Hell to be interrogated for their sins one by one, and only after that can they have their soul scattered and spirit dispersed…”

“Rules?” The Northern Emperor looked at the Great Emperor of Eastern Mount Tai with a mocking glint in his eye. “Old Dong, you and I are both sitting right here, and Lady Houtu is right in front of us. Aren’t the rules of the Underworld established by the three of us? If the three of us don’t mind, who else is going to dare utter a word of complaint?”

Hearing the Great Emperor of Beiyin Fengdu say this, Du Yu’s opinion of him suddenly shifted.

Although he seemed incredibly difficult to get along with, his words always hit the nail on the head. If such a person became an ally, Du Yu believed he would be immensely beneficial to their cause.

“Old Bei, you have a point,” the Eastern Emperor nodded slightly. “If Lady Houtu doesn’t mind, then I…”

Before he could finish his sentence, all three of them turned their heads in unison to look at Houtu.

But Houtu’s eyes were half-closed, and she was actually snoring softly.

“Lady… Lady Houtu…” the Eastern Emperor called out, his face full of awkwardness.

“Eh?” Houtu snapped her eyes open. “Alright, you two made some excellent points. This Old Lady has no objections, let’s just do that.”

Du Yu couldn’t hold back a snort of laughter.

‘As expected of Lady Houtu,’ he thought to himself. ‘Even after regaining her memories, she hasn’t changed one bit. She wasn’t silent for so long because she was contemplating—she had actually fallen asleep.’

“Uh…” The Great Emperor of Eastern Mount Tai shook his head helplessly. “Since that is the case, I understand…”

Seeing that the matter was settled, the Northern Emperor stood up on his own and turned to leave.

“Old Bei, where are you going?” the Great Emperor of Eastern Mount Tai asked. “Aren’t you going to chat with Lady Houtu a bit more?”

The Northern Emperor threw a disdainful look at the Great Emperor of Eastern Mount Tai. “Stop chatting. You should leave too.”

“Me? Why?”

“Do you think that Operator came here looking for us?” The Northern Emperor pointed at the ground. “This is Lady Houtu’s Cave Dwelling. For him to show up so suddenly, he definitely has something private to discuss with Lady Houtu. We shouldn’t stick around and eavesdrop.”

The Eastern Emperor raised an eyebrow, knowing full well that the Northern Emperor was right. He quickly bowed to Houtu and said, “Lady Houtu, then… then I shall take my leave first.”

“Go on, go on…” Houtu smiled and nodded. “Be careful on your way back.”

After the two emperors left, Houtu finally breathed a sigh of relief.

The Monsters and Demons standing behind her also let out sighs of relief, pulling up chairs and sitting down around the table one after another.

“Good grief… I’m still sitting right here, you know. Why did you all just drop the act?” Du Yu asked, his face full of confusion.

The Mei Ghost gave a delicate stretch, showing off her stunning curves. “Little Brother Du Yu, why would we need to put on an act for you? Spit it out, whatever you need to say. We’ve been standing here forever and we’re exhausted.”

Seeing the group acting so casually, Du Yu felt a little more at ease himself.

He dug around in his pocket for a moment before pulling out a pitch-black, icy-cold scroll.

“Clack.”

He tossed the scroll onto the table, letting out a sharp, crisp sound.

“Leader,” Du Yu said, smiling as he looked at Houtu. “I came to return something to you.”

Houtu paused in surprise and picked up the scroll from the table. It was none other than the Eight Directions Ghost Record!

“This Old Lady doesn’t quite understand. What do you mean by return?”

Du Yu curled his lip. “I mean exactly what I said. I don’t want this Eight Directions Ghost Record anymore. I am returning it to its rightful owner, Lady Houtu.”

Houtu looked at Du Yu in confusion, then glanced down at the Eight Directions Ghost Record in her hand before slowly unrolling the scroll.

There were already seven names written on it.

These seven names were written in the calligraphic styles of different dynasties, in completely different handwritings, and were neatly inscribed pointing in seven different directions.

And right in the very center of all those names, Du Yu’s signature sat prominently.

It was proof of ownership over the Eight Directions Ghost Record.

Du Yu picked up a cloth from the table, dipped it in a little water, and carefully scrubbed away the name in the center.

“Starting today, I, Du Yu, officially give up the Eight Directions Ghost Record.”