Chapter 2605: Ashura's Tears

The Witch, Asura, and Sea tribes all had powerful individuals, so constructing these buildings was much faster than anticipated. The most complex aspect, however, was the design of the array formations. With the deep foundations of the three tribes and Zu An's newfound proficiency in array formations, various arrays gradually became perfected.

As the completion date drew nearer, Princess Ni Huang’s smile faded.

When it was time to part ways, Zu An activated a secret technique, using the Six Paths of Reincarnation to open a portal to the Asura world. One by one, the Asura tribesmen returned to their world. Only Princess Ni Huang remained until last. At the portal, the Asura King sighed, “Ni Huang, it’s time to go.”

Princess Ni Huang mumbled a soft "mm" and then suddenly rushed over, hugging Zu An tightly. Feeling his shoulder dampen with tears, Zu An stiffened slightly, but eventually raised his arms to gently embrace her. Pei Mianman, standing nearby, showed no hint of jealousy. Instead, she was filled with a sense of melancholy, having recently learned the stories of the Mermaid Queen and the Witch Mountain Goddess. What was the point of rivalry or jealousy in the face of time, space, and the flow of ages?

“Ni Huang, the portal is closing!” the Asura King reminded her anxiously. Opening a portal to another world required an immense amount of energy. So many Asura tribesmen had already passed through, taking up too much time, and Zu An was beginning to tire.

“Don’t forget me!” Princess Ni Huang called out, wiping her eyes as she ran through. Soon after she entered, the portal closed.

The Ox-Head and Horse-Face guardians approached Zu An, unable to help but sigh with emotion: “The Asura clan prides itself on combat and values bravery and strength. Weeping is considered a sign of weakness among them, so Asuras never cry, except in one specific situation.”

“What situation?” Zu An asked, recalling Princess Ni Huang’s tears, feeling a touch of worry.

“That is when an Asura woman sheds tears for her beloved,” replied Ox-Head and Horse-Face, filled with both emotion and admiration. “It only happens when her love is at its absolute peak, and her pain is at its absolute peak, simultaneously.” They marveled at how quickly Zu An had captivated an Asura princess to such an extent, given how little time they had known each other.

Zu An felt a tightening in his heart and fell silent for a long, long time. Pei Mianman walked to his side and gently took his hand. Feeling her gentle comfort, Zu An’s previously cold body gained a bit of warmth.

Next, Zu An began organizing various tasks in the Underworld, selecting the Ten Yama Kings and appointing various ghost officials and divine positions. After all, he couldn't stay there indefinitely, so he needed to arrange everything properly for the entire Underworld system to operate autonomously. He was also curious about what would happen in the future; when he returned to the Underworld, these deities and ghost officials seemed to be gone. What had happened to them, and where had they gone? Unfortunately, the more he learned, the more he realized his own insignificance, and how powerless he was in many situations.

Nevertheless, he did his best, finding Ox-Head and Horse-Face and subtly warning them that if any major changes occurred in the Underworld in the future, they should leave information near the Six Paths of Reincarnation. After all, throughout the Underworld, apart from the River of Oblivion and Yin Mountain, the Six Paths of Reincarnation were probably the most likely to withstand the ravages of time. Although Ox-Head and Horse-Face were somewhat confused, they promised him with a pat on their chests. Zu An wondered if he would be able to find the information they left in the designated places after he returned to his own world.

Later, he also found an opportunity to place the new world law beacon in the palace within the Myriad Dragons' Tomb. Gazing at the statue of the Mermaid Queen in the palace, which he had specially carved based on Gong Suyin, Zu An silently bid her farewell.

With everything now on track, he politely declined the Witch and Sea tribes' requests for him to stay and embarked on his journey back to the Demon Imperial Court. As they sat on a cloud, Zu An asked the beautiful woman beside him, "Mianman, you've seemed unusually quiet lately. Is something on your mind?"

"Perhaps I've seen too much and feel a bit emotional," she murmured, leaning against Zu An's shoulder and tightly clutching his arm. "After witnessing the situations of those women, I wonder if someday I'll also have to face such a separation."

"Cherish each day," Zu An replied. In the past, he would have assured her of his protection, but now he understood that there were too many things beyond one's control in the world, and even if encountered, they might not be changed.

Pei Mianman hummed softly, then suddenly leaned in and sought a kiss. They had spent this entire period either in the Underworld or the underwater Dragon Palace, constantly under countless watchful eyes and busy with various tasks, leaving them no chance for private moments. Both had suppressed a lot of negative emotions and desperately needed a thorough release. No words were needed; they already knew everything about each other and soon became intimately entwined.

"It's broad daylight. No one will see us, right?"

"Don't worry, we're flying high in the sky."

"But what if some powerful cultivators happen to pass by or look up?"

"No wonder you're so much more sensitive than usual. So that's what you were worried about."

"Oh, stop it!"

After a while, the clouds in the sky suddenly trembled violently, and Pei Mianman's startled, playful protest echoed again:

"The cloud won't break, will it? Be a little gentler."

"Don't worry, it won't break."

Seeing the blooming Other Shore Flower pattern appear on her lower back due to surging energy, Zu An couldn't help but ask curiously, "By the way, you've often been lost in thought on the Road to the Yellow Springs lately. Were you observing those Other Shore Flowers?"

During this period, Zu An had been extremely busy setting up things in the Underworld. Besides acting as his secretary, Pei Mianman spent her free time sitting on the Road to the Yellow Springs, lost in thought while gazing at the eerie Other Shore Flowers.

"You, bringing this up now... It's because those Other Shore Flowers feel so familiar to me, and I always have some inexplicable insights when I see them."

"What kind of insights?"

"I can't quite explain it; it's hard to put into words. It feels like the meaning of the 'Lure of the Other Shore Butterfly' that I obtained earlier has a deep connection to the Other Shore Flowers of the Underworld. I just don't know what that black butterfly is..."

Pei Mianman let out a startled gasp, her answer abruptly cut off by him. She quickly realized that he hadn't actually been interested in asking a question at all, and she indignantly scratched at him like a kitten.

When they returned to the Demon Imperial Court, Xie Daoyun and the other women had been waiting anxiously. Seeing them, everyone collectively breathed a sigh of relief:

"We received news that you were coming back, but you didn't arrive for so long, we thought you might have encountered some danger on the way."

"I told you, with Big Brother Zu's high cultivation, what danger could he possibly encounter in this world?"

"Oh, Mianman, are you sick? Your face is so red. Xiao Xi, quickly take a look at her."

Pei Mianman was startled and quickly tried to explain. If Ji Xiaoxi really found something, she'd be utterly mortified on the spot. At that critical moment, Zu An stepped forward to alleviate her embarrassment: "Our business here is concluded. It's time for us to return to our own world."