Chapter Nine: Summoning Meng Hui Back For a Young Friend
Back Hall
Within the Heartless Hall
Little Tuanzi gazed at the newly erected barrier, her small face clouded with gloom. Once again, her father had confined her.
She wondered how Sister Bai Chang was doing.
Elsewhere, the ghost servant Mao Ting respectfully saluted the two masters of Jingxuan Hall, then, wearing a stern expression, delivered the decree from His Majesty the King of Hell: “Miss Bai Chang, His Majesty commands that you remain within Jingxuan Hall these few days to reflect in solitude. Without His Majesty’s orders, you are not to leave the hall.”
“What?” Bai Chang jumped up in surprise. Reflect in solitude? Not allowed to leave the hall?
“Bai Chang!” Black Chang, standing beside her, darkened his face, giving her a clear warning.
“Do you, Miss Bai Chang, have objections to His Majesty the King of Hell’s orders?”
“No,” Bai Chang quickly waved her hand and then adopted a serious expression. “Bai Chang will strictly obey Your Majesty’s command.”
“Then the ghost servant takes his leave.” Mao Ting disappeared in an instant within Jingxuan Hall.
Once he was gone, Bai Chang’s face instantly twisted into a sorrowful expression, on the verge of tears as she looked at Black Chang. “Brother…”
She didn’t want to be locked away.
Black Chang turned and left. “Then you shall spend these days hardening your temper.”
“Brother?!”
…
Front Hall
Meng Po hurriedly reported, “Bad news, Your Highness. That sinful immortal has escaped from the tenth layer of Hell.”
“What did you say?” Yan Yi abruptly stood up, his peach blossom eyes instantly turning cold as iron, his voice icy and indifferent. “Investigate—who aided him in escaping Hell?”
“Yes, Meng Po understands.”
“Continue investigating. Where is he now? It’s one thing if he only escaped the tenth layer, but if he fled Hell entirely, none of you will escape death.”
“Yes, Meng Po will pursue his whereabouts immediately.”
Having received the order, Meng Po left hurriedly. After all, if this sinful immortal couldn’t be found, the ghost officials wouldn’t fare any better.
No sooner had she departed than Black Chang’s figure appeared in the main hall.
He bowed low and said, “Your Highness—”
“Any disturbances beyond the realm?”
“None, Your Highness. Rest assured.”
“Hmm, send a message to Meng Hui, instruct her to return to the prison immediately.”
“Return immediately?” Black Chang was momentarily stunned and blurted out, “Why summon her back so soon? Wasn’t she supposed to be gathering information on the young lord’s cultivation methods among the demon clans?”
“Someone escaped from the tenth layer of Hell,” Yan Yi explained calmly.
Black Chang was shocked. “Someone escaped from the prison?! Is it that new sinful immortal?”
“Yes, it’s him, Bai Yan.”
“Then—”
“We’ve already sent people to search for his current whereabouts. You must guard the exit of Hell. If anyone tries to flee, kill them on the spot without mercy.”
Black Chang immediately bowed low. “Understood. Black Chang will leave at once.”
Just as he was about to transform and depart, Yan Yi stopped him.
“Wait.”
“Your Highness?” Black Chang looked at him, confused.
“Station guards at the back hall. They are not to leave for a moment.”
Black Chang nodded. “Yes, I will arrange it immediately.”
“Forget it,” Yan Yi stood up again, “I will go to the back hall myself to keep watch.”
His mischievous daughter made others uneasy; it was better for him to personally oversee matters.
Black Chang shook his head helplessly, bowed, and said, “Very well, I will take my leave.”
…
Heartless Hall
Back Hall
Little Tuanzi was stunned as she watched the sinful immortal who had effortlessly broken through the barrier set by her father. “You, you, you…”
“Little lord, are you wondering how I got out?” Bai Yan had changed into a new set of clothes—a white long robe with wide sleeves, adorned with flowing golden ribbons in his hair. His black hair was styled upright, revealing a full, high forehead and an imposing presence. Now, he wore a gentle smile, looking at her with warmth.
“It’s thanks to your care, little lord, that I could move freely within the tenth layer of Hell, unrestrained.”
Little Tuanzi eyed him cautiously and quietly touched her universe pouch. “But I heard from my father that you’re only permitted freedom within the tenth layer, not across all of Hell.”
So he—
Must have escaped!
Perhaps her father was already dispatching ghosts to capture him. After all, he was a celestial lord from Heaven, personally punished by the Jade Balance Palace’s high lord. If he escaped, their Hell would bear the blame without excuse.
“Little lord, you are clever,” Bai Yan smiled kindly at her but didn’t explain how he escaped from the tenth layer.
When her hand found the explosive device hidden within, her heart calmed a little. She looked up at him, cautiously asking, “How did you know my palace was here?”
“His Majesty the King of Hell’s palace naturally belongs to you, little lord. It was easy to find out.”
“Then, you came out to see me?”
He thought for a moment before nodding. “You could put it that way, little lord.”
“Why do you want to see me?”
“To ask for your help.”
Little Tuanzi was taken aback. “Ask me for help?”
She had no magical power, no treasure pills—what help could she offer?
Could it be…
“You want me to help you escape?”
“No,” he shook his head, then smiled bitterly and lowered his gaze. “Now that I have fallen into the demonic path, even if I escape Hell, what can I do?”
“Then what do you want me to do?”
“Deliver something for me to a little friend.” Saying this, Bai Yan took a treasured item from his spirit ring.
The object was neither large nor small, about half the size of a medicinal flower. It was covered by a piece of black cloth, making it impossible to see clearly.
Yet, astonishingly, even through the cloth, a strong medicinal fragrance emanated from it, as if a single breath could instantly ease any suffering, disease, or pain.
“How fragrant!” Little Tuanzi immediately lowered her guard and even took her delicate hand out of the universe pouch.
It was the first time she had smelled such a delightful, invigorating scent.
“What is this? A medicinal flower?”
Why had she never seen one before?
Bai Yan couldn’t help but chuckle at her enchanted expression. “You really are like a little ghost.”
Little Tuanzi snapped back to reality. She had heard this twice today and got angry, “I! Am! Not! I am! Miaoyuan!”
“Yes, yes, you are Little Lord Miaoyuan. My apologies. So, can you deliver this medicinal flower to my little friend?”
“It really is a medicinal flower? Is your little friend ill?”
“Heh?” Bai Yan lowered his head, his face heavy with gloom as he sighed, “He’s been frail and sickly since childhood, relying on all manner of medicinal flowers in the world to sustain himself.”
“Is it really that serious?”
“Yes. Little lord, would you be willing to help?”
“I can. What’s his name? Where does he live? What clan is he from?”
“He is Han Mo, lives in the freezing cold regions, and is of the demon clan.”