Chapter 215: Ghost King Zhong Kui, Supreme Tian Mo Brother Qian Chen

The most elite ghosts often require only the most basic cooking methods; after a long day of concealing their tracks for Brother Qian Chen and the others, Zhong Zhong Fujun began preparing the dipping sauce…

Water from the Youquan beneath Yu Jiuyou.

The gray-white spring water rippled in a golden cup, as a few drops of celestial dew from sun and moon were added.

Zhong Kui merely reached behind his buttocks, pulling out a nightmarish yecha demon; with one massive hand, he gripped its head and tail and twisted hard—thick ghostly juice dripped from the creases of its writhing body, adding two parts malice, three parts ill will, four parts envy, six parts madness…

The evil ghostly souls of Chang'an were squeezed dry by Zhong Kui, yielding all manner of foul, turbid negativity.

At this moment, Zhong Kui had concealed his divine form, revealing his true ghostly body: green-faced, fanged, grotesque and terrifying, like a demonic king of ghosts, radiating a fearsome, chilling aura.

Even Yan Shu and the others could not help but be shaken.

This suffocating pressure bore down on Master Sima Master Sima Chengzhen no less than when he had gone to assassinate An Lushan—the Supreme Tian Mo General who had forged an immortal demonic body.

Brother Qian Chen looked up at Zhong Kui's towering form, now grown a full zhang taller; if he stood upright, he would nearly brush the rafters of the Liyuan Imperial Palace! Brother Qian Chen silently marveled—no wonder Zhong Kui, in his ghost king form, had fled in shame during Emperor Taizong's imperial examination, unable to bear revealing his true visage!

Who would believe such a monstrous demon was a good man?

Yet Zhong Kui truly was a ghost king who retained the cruelty and terror of his kind, yet remained upright and kindhearted—even after dying in grievance, he still walked the path of justice.

Finally, he shook the golden cup vigorously, thick malice rising like a yellow broth on the surface.

The Zhong family's secret dipping sauce was complete!

Zhong Kui dipped the drained yecha demon into the cup, then ate it like a snack—one bite, then another—his eyes closing in delight.

Though drained, the evil ghost still retained its consciousness; as its body touched the murky, yellow-queue-like sauce, its ghostly form corroded with wounds, convulsing in terror and screaming in agony—so much so that Si Si Qingguo turned away, unable to bear it.

Yan Shu frowned deeply… this was no sauce—it was poison from the Yellow Springs.

Each drop brimmed with the poison of human hearts and the nine springs' Nine You Qi; any ordinary cultivator who merely smelled it would ruin their Dao foundation and cloud their mind. Only a ghost king like Zhong Kui, already at the pinnacle of mortal existence, could swallow such a thing.

Yet Brother Qian Chen showed no revulsion—in fact… Yan Shu caught a fleeting expression on his face: curiosity?

And anticipation!

Even his throat moved as he swallowed… Yan Shu grew more anxious. He wasn't worried that Master Master Miaokong could threaten his younger brother—but their demonic affinity ran deep; whenever his brother met Master Master Miaokong, his demonic nature tended to spiral out of control.

That was what truly frightened him.

"Hahaha…"

Seeing Brother Qian Chen swallow, Zhong Kui roared with laughter: "Smells good, doesn't it? Want a bite? I guarantee once you taste these ghostly morsels, you'll never forget them. These souls are slippery little devils—swallow them whole, and as you chew, they scream and writhe in your mouth…"

"One bite delivers endless malice, rage, fear, and hatred—so satisfying!"

"No thanks!" Brother Qian Chen decided he must preserve his righteous image—he wouldn't risk tasting such a dark delicacy, like a "three-squeak" dish.

Zhong Kui sneered: "Especially when paired with their memories…"

He raised a demon: "This one was the beggar chief of Chang'an's sickhouse. Every Lantern Festival or festive season, he'd slip into crowds, luring daughters of the wealthy and sons of the poor."

"In the sickhouse, countless children he maimed lay rotting. He sold Chang'an's abducted girls to Luoyang's brothels, even bribed palace insiders to secretly castrate poor boys and send them to court…"

Zhong Kui raised another demon…

"This one was a sorcerer who performed beast shows in Chang'an—could command dogs and rats, his beasts seeming to understand human speech."

"But in truth, these rats the size of cats and black dogs on all fours were children whose limbs he shattered and bent backward with magic, then sewn into the skins of slaughtered black dogs. Yet such petty tricks couldn't fool the wise. After performing half a day in Chang'an, he was torn apart by ten thousand rats, summoned by an unnamed sorcerer…"

Saying this, Zhong Kui swallowed it whole, chewing loudly.

Amid the demon's screams, he laughed: "Delicious! So delicious!"

At last, Yan Shu relaxed his brow, snatched a nearby wine jar, and drank deeply: "Truly delicious!"

Zhong Kui, still chewing with satisfaction, took the wine jar from Yan Shu, took a sip, and sighed wistfully: "In this world, humans are more vicious than ghosts. I can control evil ghosts—but not evil men. This damned heavenly code!"

Zhong Kui cursed the heavens.

The City God, though a properly appointed deity by the Heavenly Court, could not interfere in mortal affairs—he could subdue demons and quell monsters, but could not freely strike at mortals, or even minor heretics. That's why, despite his burning hatred of evil, Zhong Kui was often forced to watch helplessly.

Of course, that one time was an exception.

Brother Qian Chen privately thought: That time, Zhong Kui was definitely scared stiff!

After the appetizer, Zhong Kui finally sharpened his blade and prepared to feast on the main course. On his hook, Liu Liu Luogu's soul trembled in agony, forced to witness Zhong Kui devouring evil souls—his demonic resolve, though ironclad, now trembled with despair and terror.

At this moment, a magical mirror emitted spiritual light, piercing his soul.

Amid agony like being flayed alive, his memories were forcibly extracted—while a gaze, dripping with hunger, fixed upon his soul. His fragile spirit, exposed to Zhong Kui's stare, felt the naked, unhidden appetite—and instinctively shuddered, fear washing over him like a tide.

"So plump…" Zhong Kui patted Liu Liu Luogu's soul on the buttocks, praising: "This soul is well-refined! So tender, so chewy. The demonic energy and malice are perfectly infused—delicious flavor, perfect texture. Such a feast isn't unheard of, but it's one of the finest I've had in years!"

………

Within the Three Lifetimes Mirror…

"Yang Yang Guozhong has constantly slandered me before the Emperor. Though I took your advice, befriended Imperial Consort Yang Yang Taizhen internally, severed ties with the Crown Prince and Yang Yang Guozhong externally, and offended border generals like Gao Wang Xianzhi and General Geshu Han, I've maintained the posture of a lone minister."

"But Li Li Linfu's fate looms before me—how much trust did the Emperor once place in Wang Wang Zhongsi? He was the Xiao Xie Xuan Emperor's adopted son, more favored than anyone else—yet one slanderous word from Li Li Linfu made the Emperor suspicious. Had General Geshu Han not defended him, he'd have been executed."

"How do I compare to Wang Wang Zhongsi?"

In the Three Lifetimes Mirror, Liu Liu Luogu advised: "Your Excellency may not match Wang Wang Zhongsi, but Yang Yang Guozhong is nowhere near Li Li Linfu!"

"True…" An Lushan heaved himself up, his fat body shifting. He sighed deeply: "Li Li Linfu…"

Even though Li Li Linfu had long been secretly assassinated by the Xiao Xie Xuan Emperor, his tone still carried deep wariness.

"Now I am Military Governor of Pinglu and Fanyang—my power far exceeds Wang Wang Zhongsi's in his prime. Yet Yang Yang Guozhong slanders me daily—I fear sudden disaster at any moment!"

"Your Excellency has just helped the Emperor eliminate Li Li Linfu. Why not, when summoned, request the position of Military Governor of Hedong? Test whether the Emperor harbors suspicion."

Liu Liu Luogu's expression radiated loyalty to both An Lushan and the court.

………

The memory shifted to two years prior: the Xiao Xie Xuan Emperor sent Fu Fu Shulin to test him; An Lushan met the Emperor at Huaqing Palace, then summoned Liu Liu Luogu upon returning to his residence.

They discussed Yang Yang Guozhong's schemes against An Lushan.

Liu Liu Luogu sealed the room with forbidden spells, then whispered: "Your Excellency, here is a perfect chance to strike at Yang Yang Guozhong. His talent and character are mediocre—he rose only because Imperial Consort Yang Taizhen enjoys the Emperor's favor."

"Since inheriting Li Li Linfu's power, he has dreamed of becoming the second Supreme Tian Mo Chancellor. I've learned his cultivation has long stagnated at the Golden Core stage—after Your Excellency forged your Primordial Demonic Body, his subordinates are growing restless!"

"So he's desperate."

"Just say it," An Lushan said.

"Yang Yang Guozhong seeks to reopen the Nine You Rift left by the Five Demons Cataclysm of the Wei-Jin era, drawing boundless demonic energy from the Nine You Demon Realm to forge his Primordial Demonic Body. He has the Emperor's tacit approval."

"You mean—"

"He's insane! If this plan falters even slightly, he'll be doomed!"

"I must know nothing of this. Liu Luogu—you've always been my most trusted man. I leave this entirely to you."

………

The next memories were a routine political conspiracy.

How Liu Liu Luogu set traps for Yang Yang Guozhong, planted moles within his circle, arranged agents in court, the martial world, and the streets—and how, if discovered, he would frame the Crown Prince.

But this was not what Brother Qian Chen and the others sought. Beside them, Li Li Guiyuan and the Daoist performers summoned under the Zhang Tian Shi's authority all wore the same expression: "Is that all?"

Liu Liu Luogu's face twisted in fury: "I never imagined the Daoist Zhang Tian Shi would become Yang Yang Guozhong's lapdog! You righteous ones claim to uphold Heaven's Way—yet you do nothing to stop Yang Yang Guozhong from destroying the Nine You Rift, and instead torment me like this!"

"If you have any guts, kill me outright! Or when Your Excellency learns of this, the Emperor will have no place for you among the Daoists!"

Liu Liu Luogu ranted furiously—but Brother Qian Chen, Master Sima Master Sima Chengzhen, and even Zhong Kui showed no reaction.

Brother Qian Chen reached out, his magnetic dan energy forming a giant hand that seized Liu Liu Luogu's soul.

"Your fabricated memories are absurd!" Brother Qian Chen sneered.

"You feared someone might capture you and search your soul before the Xiao Xie Xuan Emperor—so you terrified yourself into making every memory say 'the Emperor'!"

"Look at us—we say 'the Emperor' too, to save the people!"

"In private, isn't it normal to curse your idiot boss? Yet every hidden memory you've shown is full of reverence—do you think you're fooling anyone?"

Brother Qian Chen turned to ask: "Zhong Zhong Fujun, when you eat ghosts for wine, do you say 'the Emperor' every time?"

Zhong Kui grinned: "Of course! My reverence for the Emperor shines as bright as sun and moon—Heaven and Earth bear witness!"

Brother Qian Chen didn't scold him, but turned to Li Li Guiyuan: "Have you ever cursed the Xiao Xie Xuan Emperor in private?"

Li Li Guiyuan declared solemnly: "I am no hypocrite! If the Emperor errs, I speak openly—never gossip behind his back!"

Master Sima Master Sima Chengzhen smirked: "That old pervert who stole his son's wife? I've cursed him countless times in private…"

Brother Qian Chen smiled and recited a poem: "Dragon Pool wine spills through cloud screens, Jiegu rises as music halts. Midnight banquet ends, palace bells linger—Prince Xue drunk, Prince Shou awake."

Instantly, all around laughed in perfect unison—even Zhong Kui and Li Li Guiyuan, who had just sworn they'd never speak ill of the Emperor, laughed heartily.

Because Brother Qian Chen's poem was brutally vicious.

The first half depicts Xuanzong's midnight banquet in Xingqinggong: the cloud screen, a magical artifact separating inner and outer court, transforms into a boundless realm of soft clouds, like ten thousand mu of cloud beds.

The Xiao Xie Xuan Emperor and Yang Yang Taizhen often unfurled the cloud screen, creating a cloud palace—what they did inside need not be elaborated.

The second half—"Prince Xue drunk, Prince Shou awake"—is the masterstroke.

Yang Yang Taizhen was once Prince Shou's wife—everyone knew it. After the banquet, she lay awake all night; the word "awake" pierced to the bone, depicting Prince Shou's sleepless torment and the green crown upon his head.

Only a flute played through the night could soothe his pain.

Liu Liu Luogu's face turned grim—he never imagined anyone would dismantle his lie from such an absurd yet strangely convincing angle.

Even if he'd foreseen this, he had to ensure the Xiao Xie Xuan Emperor saw nothing but loyalty in these memories.

Li Li Guiyuan sneered: "An Lushan has long used his private vices to feign loyalty. When Li Li Linfu held power, whenever Liu Liu Luogu returned from court, he'd always ask: 'What did Shilang say?' If the words were good, he'd smile; if Li Li Linfu even joked with a hint of displeasure, he'd tremble in fear."

"I once saw him prop himself up on his bed, barely standing, crying: 'Oh no, I'm doomed!'—all for the Emperor's eyes!"

"Yet at that time, he was already secretly plotting with the Emperor to eliminate Li Li Linfu!"

Liu Liu Luogu fell silent…

A cold smile appeared on his face—now his mental fortitude shone through. Even as Zhong Kui gently scorched his soul with yin fire, he only sneered: "Death is nothing! Your methods are crude compared to the demonic arts. Even if you devour me, I merely perish—soul and spirit scattered."

"Why should I fear you?"

"Life and death are ordinary matters… I entered the demonic path—I've seen through devouring souls as nothing but scattered spirits. I'm ashamed to call myself a demon lord!"

Brother Qian Chen smiled: "You're right…"

He pulled out the Demon King's Relic, letting it spin slowly in his palm, and murmured, "The Magistrate's tortures and methods are still far inferior to those of the demonic path. In this regard, the demonic path has truly achieved profound mastery and leads the way."

Brother Qian Chen's calm words seemed to carry the deepest malice, stirring a chill deep within Liu Liu Luogu's heart—even though he had withstood Zhong Kui's threats.

Yan Shu's face showed pity; he sighed, "Younger brother..."

He saw Brother Qian Chen turn his head slightly, his expression calm yet resolute, and knew he could not dissuade him. He patted Brother Qian Chen's shoulder and said, "Know when to stop!"

"I understand," Brother Qian Chen smiled faintly, then turned back, his gaze indescribable.

In Liu Liu Luogu's heart, his most primal fear and despair surged over him like a tide...