When Jiang Lin and the others saw the Northern Hall's thousand paper crane team, the Western Hall and Southern Hall also arrived with a thousand paper crane team from the Northern Hall.
Three days later, the same information was announced in the name of the Underworld.
—The King of the Northern Hall abdicates and heads to the Black Abyss!
Southern Underworld.
Inside the King of Hell’s Hall.
“My Lord, we don't have to compensate the Northern Hall for their losses, and they have brought a large amount of compensation this time.”
Zhong Kui waved his hand, and a scroll appeared before him, unfurled.
It recorded what the Northern Hall had brought.
The ghost messengers from the Northern Hall came this time, not only to deliver Bei Xue’s message but also to bring many supplies and spirit money as compensation for the Ghost Shopkeeper incident.
This was good news for the Southern Hall, which was constantly repairing walls.
When Zhong Kui was alive, he was a top student, but he didn’t have many opportunities to apply his knowledge.
“Mm.”
Nan Ming sat in his seat, one leg bent, casually resting on the seat.
After listening to Zhong Kui’s report, he said indifferently, “Anything else?”
Zhong Kui nodded, “Some of the things previously damaged in the Southern Hall have not been fully repaired. With this money, we can hire some professionals to take a look.”
“After that is done, there should be some left, which can be used to replace some of the things in the Southern Hall that haven’t been renovated yet.”
“Of course, some can also be kept for future unforeseen needs.”
Nan Ming: “……”
Did their Southern Hall have to live so frugally?
He raised an eyebrow, “Just do as you think best.”
It was good that they didn’t have to pay compensation anyway.
This way, Zhong Kui wouldn’t be thinking about asking him to extort money from the Western Hall every day.
“Yes, my Lord, I will start making arrangements now,” Zhong Kui said, cupping his hands.
Although the King of Hell was destructive, he was willing to delegate internal affairs to his subordinates.
When outside, his extremely powerful combat ability was also very reliable.
Well, except for the destruction part.
Everything else was quite good.
Zhong Kui thought as he exited the King of Hell’s Hall.
…
The King of Hell’s Hall became quiet again.
Nan Ming changed his posture, straightening his legs and leaning back against the seat, his hands clasped behind his head.
He looked at the ceiling of the King of Hell’s Hall, his eyes filled with thought.
Black Abyss…
On the same day the Northern Hall’s thousand paper crane team arrived, the Kings of Hell of the Eastern, Southern, and Western Halls secretly headed to the Black Abyss.
At the agreed-upon entrance to the Black Abyss, they saw Bei Xue.
She was dressed in white, her long hair tied loosely with a red string at the ends. She carried nothing but a suona.
She stood above the cliff, so slender that it seemed a gust of wind could blow her away.
Seeing Nan Ming, Xi He, and Yan Luo, Bei Xue’s deathly pale face broke into a smile.
“I made a grave mistake in the Ghost Shopkeeper incident. Today, I offer myself to the Black Abyss as atonement. Please supervise me.”
Xi He, dressed in a grey robe, stood with his hands behind his back and said slowly:
“You don’t have to do this. There are many ways to compensate.”
“No…”
Bei Xue lowered her eyelids and shook her head.
Xi He was right in his first sentence; she didn’t have to abdicate, she didn’t have to enter the Black Abyss.
her position as King of Hell was bestowed by that Lord. No one could force her to leave except that Lord.
But,
Precisely because of this, she was even less qualified to remain in that position.
She had not only failed that Lord’s trust but had also acted in such a way towards the human world that he cared about…
Bei Xue would not make any excuses. If she was wrong, she was wrong.
…
Nan Ming stepped forward, his expression solemn, “Are you sure you want to enter the Black Abyss?”
Rumor had it that in the Black Abyss…
There was a battlefield that never stopped.
There was a battle that was always ongoing.
But, few people knew where its entrance was, and even fewer knew what was hidden inside the Black Abyss.
And why the battle inside was being fought…
…
In response to Nan Ming’s question, Bei Xue nodded seriously, “I am sure.”
She turned and looked at Yan Luo, who seemed about to speak, and smiled.
“If, if he ever comes back…”
She paused abruptly at this point.
If he came back, she would be too ashamed to face him…
Yan Luo suddenly spoke, her eyes reddened, “I will! I’ll tell you the first thing I hear!”
“Thank you…”
Bei Xue thanked her with a smile, and the next moment, she took a step back.
—Behind her lay a bottomless abyss.
“I, Bei Xue, being guilty, shall enter the Black Abyss to atone starting today!”
She spread her arms and plunged straight down.
“May I go with the Lord!”
Several dark figures leaped out from the nearby woods and jumped into the abyss without hesitation.
In an instant,
Above the abyss, three extremely powerful auras vibrated.
Hum—
The great sword appeared before Nan Ming, its blade vibrating slightly, emitting a humming sound.
“There is no turning back from the Black Abyss. I, Nan Ming!”
A vast, dark starry sky appeared before Yan Luo, “There is no turning back from the Black Abyss. I, Yan Luo!”
“I! Xi He!”
A circular disk appeared in Xi He’s hand, on which two yin-yang fish were slowly swimming.
“We bid you farewell here!”
The three voices, filled with righteous energy, echoed in the heavens and earth, lingering for a long time.
…
In the surrounding woods, some birds and beasts were startled and scattered.
But after fleeing far away, they couldn’t help but look back this way.
They did not know why the terrifying aura had appeared today, nor did they know that from today onwards, the four Kings of Hell would be one short.
They also didn’t know that the ones bidding farewell were three Kings of Hell.
Above the abyss.
Xi He and Nan Ming left one after another.
Yan Luo stood quietly at the entrance of the Black Abyss, looking for a long time.
Back then, the four of them had followed that Lord for various reasons.
They had witnessed a broader world and gained more precious things.
They respected him, loved him, and admired him…
But if there was anyone among the four of them who could act for that Lord without regard for any stance, without regard for the vastness of the world…
Bei Xue would be the first.
After the matter of ‘My King’ ended, Yan Luo often thought about that day.
Bei Xue could stand by that Lord’s side without regard for her stance, Nan Ming could confidently raise his sword against him.
Xi He could uphold his own position and guard his territory.
Then what about her? What could she do?
Yan Luo looked into the distance, contemplating for the first time…
Did the departure of that Lord hold a different expectation for the four of them?
…
After Yan Luo also left, the mountain peak returned to its usual tranquility.
A gentle breeze blew…
After a long time.
In the sky, amidst the layers of clouds, a sigh was heard.