Chapter 114: Night as Dark as Ink, Skirt Hem Like Snow

After that address of "Big Sister-in-Law" was called out, the flowing night seemed to freeze for a moment. A silence fell before the main gate, and only after a while did Ning Changjiu's cough sound.

He feigned a few coughs, breaking the awkward silence. He knelt down, patted the little boy's head, and smiled, "What a polite little friend."

Zhao Xiang'er's expression grew even colder. She grabbed Ning Changjiu by the back of his collar and pulled him aside.

The little boy didn't know if he had called out correctly or incorrectly; it was just that this big sister's expression didn't seem good—she looked so fierce... Oh, right, it should have been "Big Sister"!

The little boy realized his mistake. Looking at the beautiful sister's frosty face, his hands and feet felt half-frozen. He wanted to open his mouth to correct his mistake but then remembered his mother saying that the more one speaks, the more mistakes one makes. He hesitated whether to speak or not.

Seeing this scene, the City Lord sneered inwardly. "Children are just children; they can't understand the situation," he thought. "Not only did he kneel before the wrong person, but he also used such a ridiculous address. One must know how important a good name is to a young maiden of this age. How is such an address any different from publicly humiliating her? This young guard truly has a death wish. It's one thing not to apologize to this Immortal Master, but he even dares to joke with a child. No wonder he gets beaten every day. Presumably, he has some special backing; otherwise, why would this Immortal Master keep him by her side for so long?"

Zhao Xiang'er remained expressionless. Her beautiful face, like an ice sculpture or carved jade, resembled a poppy quietly blooming in the snow. Its delicate, fragile purity hinted at an undefiled, ethereal beauty.

Everyone felt that chilling aura. Her pure white dress, ruffled by the night wind, made her appear even colder, as if she were the very embodiment of impermanence, snatching lives without a blink. Everyone was silent, struck with terror.

This atmosphere did not last long. Unexpectedly, she did not seem to punish the boy who had spoken incorrectly. Instead, she asked, "What is your name?"

If it were anyone else, they would likely be worried about a calamity like their entire family being executed. But the little boy was simple-minded and didn't think deeply. In the feeling of surviving a disaster, he wondered if he had, in fact, not called out incorrectly after all.

He quickly replied, "My name is Ding Leshi..."

Zhao Xiang'er nodded. She looked at the City Lord and said indifferently, "This child wants me to uphold justice for them. City Lord, what do you think should be done?"

The City Lord's heart tightened, and he felt a faint unease. He said cautiously, "Immortal Master, your insight is extraordinary. Those clumsy tricks used to deceive children, with your keen eye, you must surely see through them at a glance."

The little boy, Ding Leshi, immediately shouted loudly, "You're a liar! You won't let us eat raw rice, and you collect rice from house to house. You just want us to become like you. All that talk about turning into ghosts and not dying is a lie! Many ghosts have died. My father died; he was eaten by ghost bugs! You're a cheat!"

The City Lord's expression did not change much; he said calmly, "Judging by your attire, your family's circumstances should be decent. Your family are merchants, aren't they? Your father, when he was alive, must have been greedy for countless riches and profited greatly from his business. Now, Heaven and Earth have eyes, and rewards and punishments are clear. Good and evil each have their retribution. What is there to explain?"

Ding Leshi's face turned purplish-blue with anger. He furiously shouted, "You're the bad guy! Everyone in this city was killed by you. You are the most unforgivable demon!"

The City Lord was too lazy to bother with the child any further. He looked at Zhao Xiang'er and said, "It's noisy here. Immortal Master, please step inside. We can discuss in detail all matters regarding seizing the Underworld Lord's authority. As for the prohibition of eating raw rice, it was proposed by Qin Gong. His reputation in the city is very high, and I agreed because I found his words reasonable. If the Immortal Master has any objections to this matter, you can discuss it with Qin Gong."

Qin Gong, standing nearby, felt his heart sink. He tightly clutched the document the City Lord had given him, his palms dripping with sweat.

He knew the City Lord intended to abandon him as a pawn. But he couldn't understand the young girl's thoughts. He only hoped that despite being an immortal cultivator, she was still young, and her constant cold expression was just an act of pretense, concealing a lack of complex thoughts.

After being mentioned by the City Lord, he quickly bowed to Zhao Xiang'er and said, "I am unworthy, and this strategy was a measure of last resort. If there are any improprieties, I hope the Immortal Master will correct them."

Zhao Xiang'er hummed in affirmation and said, "Nothing is amiss."

Qin Gong secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

The City Lord's gaze shifted. He did not, however, think of her as foolish as Qin Gong did. After all, it was she who had pulled Lady Bai from her pedestal. And her current indifferent attitude towards everything could only mean her ambition was far greater.

The City Lord had already made up his mind and said, "At that time, I am willing to lead the troops for the Immortal Master, leveraging our advantageous position to first pull the Empress of Zhao from her throne. Then, using Zhao as our base, we will establish several Fengdu cities, reshape the Underworld Lord's authority, and forge a new divine kingdom. At that time, the Immortal Master will truly be on par with the gods, and we only wish to ascend with you. If the Immortal Master doesn't mind, I can draw the battle flag for you right now. May I ask what your surname is, Immortal Master?"

Zhao Xiang'er replied, "Zhao."

The City Lord nodded, then suddenly froze—"Isn't that the surname of the Zhao Kingdom? Could this young girl have ties to the royal family? Is she an illegitimate daughter of some great family, or does she have a major conflict with the Zhao royal family? Or..."

A thought, like lightning, flashed through his mind. But before this thought could fully form, he heard the little boy shout loudly, "Don't believe what this old man says! They want to kill all of us, and once we're dead, they'll definitely kill you too... Big brother, please persuade Big Sister-in-Law! Don't believe them! Even a child like me understands this, how could you not?"

The little boy's shrill cries were extremely grating. The City Lord's brow furrowed, and his aura suddenly turned grim. His hand, hidden in his sleeve, had already formed into a blade-like shape. He glanced over and saw the young man blocking the little boy who was desperately trying to rush forward. The young woman, however, remained indifferent, her face still cold. His heart settled slightly, and he strode forward, angrily shouting, "You ungrateful little wretch, we are planning the future for everyone in this city! What nonsense are you spouting? What kind of family raises such an ill-mannered child?"

As he spoke, he stretched out his hand, intending to grab the little boy. Hidden power had already gathered in his hand. If he were to choke him to death then, he could simply claim it was an accident. So many people had died in this city already; who would care about the life or death of one little boy?

Ding Leshi's eyes widened. Though young, he clearly saw the sinister and profound killing intent in the City Lord's eyes.

As the City Lord approached, the hairs on his entire body stood on end, and a chill surged up his spine. He opened his mouth wide, wanting to call for help, but suddenly gasped, unable to utter a single word.

The hand was about to fall on his shoulder.

"Ah!" Ding Leshi felt his scalp explode. With death so close and no chance of survival, his throat contracted, and he finally couldn't help but let out a loud scream.

He closed his eyes, then slowly opened them after a moment. He touched his body and found himself still flesh and blood. The fear had not yet subsided, and as he stared wide-eyed at the City Lord's face, now so close, he couldn't help but cry out again.

The City Lord was kneeling on one knee, his hand resting on the boy's shoulder, but it was soft and completely without strength. The City Lord's spectral pupils began to dilate. He struggled to turn his head, looking at Zhao Xiang'er, and asked in confusion, "Wh... why?"

As the City Lord turned his head, Ding Leshi finally noticed a huge, enormous hole at the back of his head.

If a spirit had brains, this moment would be one of a shattered skull and brain matter spilling out.

Zhao Xiang'er lowered her raised hand. Her white clothes fluttered, and the crimson light falling upon her seemed to transform into pure moonlight.

She didn't answer, merely glancing at Ning Changjiu from the corner of her eye.

Ning Changjiu leaned down, looking at the dying City Lord, and said softly, "City Lord, your kind intentions are appreciated, but it would be rather inappropriate for our Empress to rebel against herself, wouldn't it?"

The City Lord's eyes widened. The conjecture that had flashed like lightning through his mind earlier now took complete form. But all his thoughts rapidly extinguished with the formation of this conjecture.

He stared wide-eyed at the girl in the fluttering white dress, his eyes filled with venom as he hissed, "Zhao... Zhao Xiang'er! You can't..."

Before he could finish his curse, the City Lord's spirit vanished before everyone's eyes, like quicksand blown away by a strong wind. Ding Leshi stared wide-eyed, still in shock, gasping for air. Only when he saw the City Lord's spirit completely disappear did the nausea and coldness in his heart significantly dissipate.

After Qin Gong successively witnessed the City Lord's death and heard the true identity of the girl in white, his heart was awash with tumultuous waves, trembling uneasily. And at this moment, Zhao Xiang'er's gaze fell upon him. He shuddered from head to toe, feeling as if all the darkness within his gut had been turned inside out, exposed one by one to the moonlight.

Zhao Xiang'er's lips curved slightly, and she asked, "Qin Gong, do you have any more brilliant ideas?"

How could Qin Gong dare to look at her again? He tremblingly stretched out his arms, adjusted his sleeves, clasped his hands together and bowed, "Greetings, Empress. Your Majesty, everything that happened before was forced upon me by that old City Lord! I was forced into it. This... this order to forbid raw rice..."

Qin Gong immediately reacted. He quickly unfolded the document he had clutched in his hand, which was mostly soaked with sweat, and tore it to shreds. Then, with a thud, he dropped to his knees, prostrating himself on the ground.

Zhao Xiang'er looked at the bowing, submissive scholar. She then glanced at Ning Changjiu. Ning Changjiu's month of beatings wasn't in vain; he quickly understood. He handed a knife to Ding Leshi and said, "You do it."

Ding Leshi was still a bit stunned. He subconsciously took the boning knife. His right hand trembled, and he almost dropped it. He then switched to holding the knife with both hands, looking at Ning Changjiu in horror.

Ning Changjiu sighed, looked at Zhao Xiang'er, and asked, "He's still a child."

Zhao Xiang'er had already turned and walked deeper into the old mansion. Her pure, cold voice drifted through the night: "If he is to grow up in this city, then he is destined not to be an ordinary child."

Shortly after, Qin Gong's screams echoed from behind them.

Ning Changjiu slightly closed his eyes, clasped his hands within his sleeves, and followed.

On the high building earlier, Black and White Wuchang had been hiding in the shadows, ready to strike at any moment.

Black Wuchang sat on a chair, taking out his erhu with its python-scale skin. With one hand pressing the strings and the other mimicking the bowing motion, he seemed to hold an invisible bow, drawing silent melodies from the instrument's body, little by little.

Black Wuchang's expression was focused, his mind free of distractions. Meanwhile, the white-robed scholar, dressed in mourning, intently peered through the crack in the high building's door. His gaze lingered on the girl in the white dress, praising her peerless beauty repeatedly. He remarked that "beauty capable of overthrowing a city or state" was insufficient to describe such a woman, adding that "all the courtesans from a century of this city's history combined couldn't compare to an inch of her beauty." He even mocked Black Wuchang for being blind and unable to behold such peerless beauty, calling it a true pity. "A scholar like me should have such a beautiful companion to read with and enhance the ambiance."

"When Lady Bai regains her authority and returns," White Wuchang thought, fanning himself with the folding fan in his hand, his mind filled with fantasies, "this exceptionally beautiful girl will surely become her prisoner. At that time, perhaps I can even..."

At that very moment, Zhao Xiang'er raised her hand, her palm aimed at the back of the City Lord's head. And then the City Lord's spirit gradually dissipated.

The spiritual essence of the entire Yama's Mansion began to wither.

White Wuchang's words were like water vapor floating in winter, quickly condensing into fine ice shards. The moment Zhao Xiang'er turned around, she raised her head towards the high building and looked.

This building was large, with dozens of windows. And he had only opened a crack. The night was pitch black, so by all accounts, Zhao Xiang'er should have been utterly unable to see him.

But she looked directly in his direction. In a fleeting smile, White Wuchang knew she had definitely seen him. He instinctively slammed the window shut, then collapsed onto a chair, muttering repeatedly, "It's over, it's over." He grabbed Black Wuchang by the shoulder, shaking him forcefully, "Why are you still playing that instrument? That woman killed the City Lord! She saw us! We're going to die soon!"

Black Wuchang continued to draw the invisible bow, his fingers pressing the wrong strings, without uttering a single word.

White Wuchang suddenly stood up, and the chair clattered to the floor. He pointed at Black Wuchang's nose and shouted, "Do you think you can get away? How many evil deeds have you secretly and openly done for that City Lord this past month? Do you really think you're just a street performer with that instrument? You have no fewer lives on your hands than I do!"

Black Wuchang silently continued to draw the string.

White Wuchang wanted to continue yelling, but his body suddenly jolted, and he turned his head to look at the tightly closed door.

From behind the door, footsteps approached, growing louder.

White Wuchang knew that these footsteps were intentionally made by the girl. She wanted him to hear them!

The footsteps stopped at the doorway.

White Wuchang's heart was in his throat. But the door remained stubbornly closed. The fear of impending death finally brought him back to his senses. He suddenly turned around, opened the window, and intended to leap out to escape. The moment he turned, the sound of the door opening echoed from behind him.

With successive snapping sounds, all the wooden windows closed one by one, leaving not the slightest gap.

He stood by the window, trembling as he turned his head. He saw a girl with long, flowing hair sitting in an old-fashioned walnut wooden chair. Her brilliant white dress stood out starkly in the surrounding darkness, clinging to her soft figure. What should have been a magnificent sight, like snow-covered mountains, now appeared eerie and terrifying.

She resembled a true vengeful spirit, even more than White Wuchang himself!

Beside her stood an inconspicuous young man. The young man's gaze upon him was like looking at a pile of cold ashes.

"Interested in working for our Highness?" Ning Changjiu said, acting like a mouthpiece.

White Wuchang froze, suspecting he had misheard. Then, overjoyed, he said, "I am willing to serve Your Highness humbly."

Ning Changjiu then said, "Very well. But how can we trust your loyalty?"

"Uh..." White Wuchang pondered for a moment, then was stumped. He didn't know how he could prove his loyalty. But at that moment, Ning Changjiu gave him a meaningful glance.

He looked at Black Wuchang.

White Wuchang immediately understood. The other party wanted him to kill Black Wuchang to prove his loyalty to them!

His heart burned with eagerness. He wasn't familiar with Black Wuchang to begin with. Furthermore, Black Wuchang was merely a street performer who had stumbled upon an opportunity. How could he compare to himself, a scholar of vast learning whose talents had gone unrecognized?

He understood in his heart, yet his face still showed an expression of panic as he said, "May I ask, Your Highness, how exactly do you wish me to prove my loyalty? Just say the word, Your Highness, and I would not flinch even if it means climbing a mountain of knives or plunging into a sea of fire..."

As he spoke, he bowed deeply. The instant he prostrated, his fingers flicked within his long sleeves, and a soul-nail instantly shot out, piercing forcefully forward.

It was the sound of the soul-nail piercing through the chair back and splitting the wood.

White Wuchang's smile froze before it could fully form. He looked up and was startled to find that the chair had been empty for some time.

And behind him, the blind Black Wuchang had picked up his bow. Like wielding a narrow blade, he brought it down sharply, instantly piercing White Wuchang's spirit.

Black Wuchang placed the bow back on the strings. He then bowed deeply to Zhao Xiang'er and Ning Changjiu respectively, and said respectfully, "This is my resolve to show loyalty."

Zhao Xiang'er, resting her cheek on one hand, nodded and said, "Very good."

She glanced at Ning Changjiu and said, "You talk to him."

Ning Changjiu thought, "Are you really treating me like a servant?" Yet, still daring not to speak his anger, he simply replied, "Alright."

When Ning Changjiu and Zhao Xiang'er came down from the upper floor, a little boy stood at the staircase entrance, clutching a knife. Upon seeing them, he gripped the knife tightly and furiously charged forward.

"Give me back my grandfather!"

Of course, he couldn't kill them. He quickly tumbled down the stairs, and the knife fell to the ground. He clutched his hand, trying to reach for the knife. But the young man and woman had already walked up to him. Fear rose in his heart, and he initially wanted to retract his hand. But when he thought of his grandfather, hatred surged within him, and he desperately grabbed the knife, stabbing at them again.

With a clang, the knife fell to the ground again.

"If you can't kill us, don't pretend to be filial with a knife," Zhao Xiang'er said coldly, her cloth shoes stepping over the blade as she walked past.

Hearing her heart-piercing words, the little boy finally couldn't help but burst into loud sobs.

And in front of them, a little girl also stood.

It was the little boy's sister.

Ning Changjiu asked, "Are you here to kill us too?"

The little girl shook her head and curtsied to them. Born into a family with strict etiquette, her curtsy, softened by a touch of baby fat, wasn't exactly graceful, but it was meticulously performed and utterly flawless.

She lowered her head, and her childish voice respectfully said, "Big brother and big sister probably need raw rice very much. I know where the granary is; I'll take you there."

The little boy was too shocked to speak. He looked at his sister, who was usually so well-behaved, and couldn't believe those words had come from her mouth. He roared furiously, "You crazy girl, are you mad? They... they killed Grandpa!"

The little girl ignored her brother completely. She docilely led them out, leaving behind only her small, braided figure.

He knelt inside, clutching the dagger with trembling hands. Tears splattered on the blade, while she had already walked far away outside the door.

The dark night isolated everything.

Today, many human souls and spirits in Yama's Hall perished. The mansion's granary had also been opened wide, and Black Wuchang supervised the distribution of all the rice. Initially, the line for rice was short, but as the news slowly spread, more and more people came to the streets, forming long queues at the entrance of Yama's Mansion.

Zhao Xiang'er and Ning Changjiu walked back to the courtyard together.

In the courtyard of the old mansion, the snow had long since been trampled out