Chapter 521

I can never forget that feeling, as if I were an ant crawling on the ground, only daring to look up at those eyes, and even the courage to clash with him was completely lost.

It's him, that armored soldier spirit that appeared once before. That nameless killing spirit that once saved me and Pangzi's lives—who exactly is he……Why does he appear again in the underworld?

In reply came another aged, long chant; the ancient war horn of departure blew, and a desolate, bleak aura spread along the Yellow Springs Road.

"Get lost..." the black-armored soldier spirit stepped out, coldly uttering the word "get lost" to the netherworld soldiers and ghost officers. But that very word left the previously mighty Black and White Impermanence stunned like a cicada in winter, and the netherworld officers guarding them were instantly frightened to the ground.

"White... white" the voice and body of Black and White Impermanence trembled, unable to control the fear in their hearts.

With a swish, the troops behind the black-armored soldier spirit raised their spears. Because the soldier spirits saw their leader raise a single hand, which signalled a march to war.

"Dad, dad..."

A scene that stunned everyone appeared: just moments ago, Little Fat had been sprawled on the ground wailing loudly, yet he suddenly sat up. Little Fat's tears dried instantly, and he crawled into the black-armored soldier spirit's embrace, rubbing hard and cooing, "Daddy!"

This scene shocked me so much I almost popped my eyeballs out—what a joke, this damn thing is actually Little Fat's father; Little Fat, a harmless glutton who only knows how to eat, how could he have such an awesome dad?

Moreover, what I find unbelievable is that the black-armored soldier spirit, who previously wore a cold, murderous aura that reached the heavens, was actually subdued by Little Fat's cry of "Daddy," his aura restrained, and he even lovingly patted Little Fat's little head with his hand.

"Daddy, awesome, daddy, awesome awesome..." Little Fat kept rubbing his head against the black-armored soldier spirit, and thus this strange scene appeared on the battlefield.

Black and White Impermanence and the host of ghost officers collapsed on the ground, not daring to move, while the black-armored soldier spirit indulged in Little Fat's cooing, and the troops behind him lowered their spears, standing like wooden posts, motionless.

To their left stood me, Han Duo, and Murong Jia Jia. My expression was thus: eyes wide, the corners of my mouth twitching in a slow, rhythmic spasm, my heart repeatedly uttering the three words: "Damn my father, damn my father."

Murong Jia Jia, on the contrary, furrowed her brows, gazing blankly at the black-armored soldier spirit, as if recalling something.

As for Han Duo……she can be ignored. She completely disregarded the black-armored soldier spirit's terror, standing beside me playing with her fingernails, not only unafraid but wearing a very smug expression.

Thus, the Yellow Springs Road began to resemble a mishmash movie, with all kinds of characters and expressions gathered together. All sorts, it could practically be entered into the Berlin Film Festival.

"Wuu... daddy... awesome..." Little Fat suddenly pointed at the White Impermanence, rubbed his tears, and wailed loudly at the black-armored soldier spirit.

Little Fat's sob instantly shattered the eerie atmosphere on the Yellow Springs Road. Black and White Impermanence was so frightened they went limp on the ground, their whole body like helpless mud, drenched in sweat from fear.

The black-armored soldier spirit, meanwhile, let out an "en," furrowed his brow, raised his hand, and the troops behind him raised their spears again, beginning to advance.

The atmosphere tensed again like a drawn bow; the troops, spears held high, advanced step by step like butchers, while Black and White Impermanence and these netherworld officers became fish on a chopping block.

"Omitofo" — as the troops prepared to slaughter the ghost officers, a Buddhist chant suddenly rang out in the air, the chant like a gentle breeze and fine rain; though no golden light burst forth, nor did any figures of the Buddhist Sect's heavenly gods appear, yet it effortlessly dissolved the black-armored soldier spirit's towering killing intent, and even the troops behind him felt their aura weaken a bit in that instant.

"Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva..." the black-armored soldier spirit holding Little Fat gazed into the distance with tranquil eyes, exhaling slowly. But what he saw was only a stretch of desolate darkness, empty of anything.

Black and White Impermanence, collapsed on the ground like a pardoned prisoner, seized the moment the black-armored soldier spirit was stunned and swarmed toward the Bridge of Helplessness.

I didn't bother with those fleeing netherworld soldiers and ghost officers; right now, I was even more shocked by the four words spoken by the black-armored soldier spirit...... Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva.

It is said that Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva guards the blood river of the underworld, using his own power to dispel all manner of pagoda grudges; his vow that "until hell is empty, I will not become a buddha" moved the heavens' myriad gods.

But where is Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva...... Looking toward the black-armored soldier spirit, the far distance is nothing but cold emptiness, devoid of anything.

At this moment, the black-armored soldier spirit spoke again to the air: "If the Bodhisattva wishes for this general to return to the blood river, then I accept the vow. But if my son suffers any mishap in the underworld, I hereby swear that I will slaughter the underworld's nether river clean, leaving not a single piece of armor."

Upon uttering the final sentence, the black-armored soldier spirit let out a fierce roar, his voice spreading in all directions, shaking the entire underworld as if it trembled slightly.

"Treat my son well," the black-armored soldier gently lowered Little Fat and placed him in my hands. To be honest, watching him approach step by step, I almost shook my own heart out. Damn, this is too terrifying—his aura is downright more fearsome than King Yama.

After placing Little Fat in my embrace, he turned and left without looking back; the soldiers standing with spears gradually drew near, the orderly, solemn march resuming once more, and the silhouettes of the black-armored soldier spirit and his troops gradually faded away.

"Hey... you..." I soothed the restless Little Fat, took two steps forward, wanting to ask clearly the name of that black-armored soldier spirit. But I could never overcome the fear in my heart, so I reluctantly lowered my hand.

Suddenly, the march halted; the leading black-armored soldier spirit turned his head, glanced at me once, and said slowly, "My name is Bai Qi..."

As his voice faded, a clamor rose from the distant Bridge of Helplessness—the howls of wronged souls crying out from fear.

Human skin, book's shadow. The might of the killing god Bai Qi has been passed down for thousands of years; when people speak of the Great Qin, they think of the general who buried alive four hundred thousand surrendered troops, a butcher and killing god, one of the five great generals of Qin, the killing god Bai Qi.

How could it be him? This nameless soldier spirit, Little Fat's father, is actually the killing god Bai Qi, that absolute killing general who shocked the ages. How could he be in the underworld, and from his words it seems he has submitted to Ksitigarbha, willingly entering the blood river to be cleansed by the Bodhisattva's vow power.

The echo of the two words "Bai Qi" lingered in the air, yet like a thunderbolt from a clear sky it left my mind blank. Just then, from behind on the Yellow Springs Road came a series of fierce clapping sounds.

I knew that was Uncle Yun using a weight to bang on the Gates of Ghosts; I had told him that if I took too long to return, he should bang the weight on the table, surely smashing open the Ghost Gate to pull us out.

As the sound rang out, a glowing vortex appeared behind me, instantly sucking me and Han Duo out. As heaven and earth spun, I caught Bai Qi's final gaze.

That gaze held indulgence, reluctance, and pity……

……………………

Time slowly passed; my dazed head finally rubbed its aching temples and I gradually woke up, and at the same moment Han Duo also awoke, having nearly woken up together with me.

As soon as Shaolong saw us awake, he rushed over anxiously, grabbed us and asked, "You've finally come back—did you find my mother?"

Han Duo struggled to her feet with her weak body, gave Shaolong an apologetic shake of the head; I didn't bother to listen to what they said to each other. I simply took out the Netherworld Jade and stroked it silently.

I could feel Little Fat's sorrow within the Netherworld Jade, his weeping and pain inside it. My eyes could even clearly see Little Fat crouched in a corner of the Netherworld Jade, rubbing his little belly cloth, tears streaming, shouting, "Daddy!"

The killing god who once shook China for a thousand years, the one who willingly died for Qin and bore a thousand years of infamy—his son has become my soldier spirit, my partner. To me, just how incredible is this?

At this moment, many questions flashed through my mind. But all of it scattered in Little Fat's sobs. In my eyes, before me, there is only a lost child seeking his father. This child is my brother.

Readers ask how often updates come; usually it's two chapters a day, but these days the seasons are shifting and I've caught a cold, so I can't guarantee timing, but I won't stop updating.