Chapter 191

Chaos is one of the four great ferocious beasts, an extremely strange existence.

It has eyes but cannot see, ears but cannot hear; it is a being without order, adept at creating chaos.

It likes to cling to those who possess ferocious virtue.

It is unclear whether Yu Nian's eyes were gouged out by Chaos itself.

But it is certainly related to it.

Initially I wanted to give that pair of Buddha Eyes to Yu Nian, but she refused.

She said she could not keep them.

Now it seems that pair of Buddha Eyes was meant to be offered to Chaos.

If it weren't for the valley butterfly running out midway, at the behest of the tea shop owner's wife, handing the Buddha Eyes to Dang Pu, now… they would have already been set into the eyes of the Chaos ferocious beast.

A ferocious beast, yet it wants to wear a pair of Buddha Eyes… what is it trying to do?

With the Buddha Eyes, it can see, but it still cannot hear; does it also need to find a pair of Buddha Ears to wear?

The Buddha Eyes have always been kept in the refrigerator of Dang Pu; few dirty things dare to rashly intrude into the pawnshop.

The other side twice tried to seize the Buddha Eyes but failed; the Tang Family's mishap likely means the other side, unable to use force, has begun a roundabout strategy.

If Tang Xun had not gone to Hu Shan's ancient tomb to seek the crystal orchid, in order to save Tang Ao, they would have had to negotiate terms with the other side.

At that time, the condition the other side puts forward is likely to be this pair of Buddha Eyes.

The other side perhaps also did not expect that Tang Xun could actually find the crystal orchid.

Now Tang Xun has inadvertently provoked her destined lover, which is somewhat troublesome.

But after all, that is her destined lover; the two have been entangled for many lifetimes, and trying to avoid it is fundamentally impossible.

In a week I will use the Soul-guiding Lamp to lure Tang Xun's soul into the Nether Realm; it seems I am innocently implicated, but in fact Tang Xun has helped us ward off a calamity.

Both emotionally and logically, I must go on this trip to the Nether Realm.

This is an opportunity for me to enter the Nether Realm; the matter of my soul being drawn to the Yellow Springs Road initially frightened me, but after so many days have passed, I now feel I should confront it directly.

After all, Liu Junyan cannot forever stay by my side; he is someone destined to accomplish great deeds.

I can only achieve lasting peace by clarifying the matter of my fiancé and properly resolving it.

Returning to Dang Pu, each tidied up a bit, ate a simple lunch, and the four of us sat together to discuss the trip to the Nether Realm in a week.

Liu Junyan said: "Li Qingying, Mo Qiong, you two stay behind to guard Dang Pu; I will accompany Xiao Jiu to the underworld."

Li Qingying had no objection; she was already accustomed to guarding Dang Pu.

But Hui Moqiong refused: "Take me along; I won't cause trouble, and I can still help at critical moments."

"We'll go quickly and return quickly, causing no disturbance." Liu Junyan firmly refused, "This time we leave, we must take the Soul-guiding Lamp with us; neither I nor the lamp will be at Dang Pu. Although the spirit shrine now suppresses things, just in case, the Five Blessings Immortals now rely solely on you to hold the fort; if you don't guard Dang Pu, who will help me keep watch?"

Hui Moqiong's lips unconsciously curled up, then he quietly pressed them down.

I still remember what he said when he chose to return to Dang Pu: "I suppose I'll reluctantly become the chief of the Five Blessings Immortals."

Being the chief means being entrusted with importance.

Liu Junyan still knows how to handle him.

Hui Moqiong said: "Alright, since Dang Pu needs me so much, I'll stay to keep her company; I'm afraid she might be frightened into crying at night."

Li Qingying casually pinched the tender flesh on his arm: "Who knows who'll end up crying then!"

After settling those two, Liu Junyan then talked with me alone for a long time.

"Xiao Jiu, this happened too suddenly; we have too much to prepare and too many precautions, but fortunately we have a week to get ready. If we follow my pace, there shouldn't be any mishaps."

I nodded: "Āyàn, with you here, I have nothing to worry about."

Liu Junyan rubbed my head with a smile and then said: "The merit inside the Soul-guiding Lamp is nearly full; this is a great aid for us entering the Nether Realm. It is both the Soul-guiding Lamp and your weapon—whether the merit within or the lamp oil, you can use them, but consumption will be great, so use them judiciously."

I know that.

"The only trouble now is Fu Wan."

"Why?"

"Fu Wan's soul is still unstable; entering the Nether Realm, if the journey is smooth, it won't affect her much, but if turmoil occurs, it could be dangerous for her."

That's right.

If turmoil occurs, I will inevitably have to draw on the merit in the hexagonal palace lamp, even the lamp oil.

Once heavily consumed, it will have a serious impact on Fu Wan's soul.

She has only just managed to condense her soul—a faint, wispy trace that can easily be scattered.

If scattered, her only fate will be annihilation.

I furrowed my brow and asked: "Āyàn, what should I do to help her?"

"Extract her soul in advance." Liu Junyan said: "This afternoon, you set up a spirit tablet for her; I will receive her into the spirit shrine for worship. Tonight you can guide her into the tablet; Mao Tan can help, and once her soul body solidifies later, she can also serve as your attendant Clear Wind."

Set up a spirit tablet for Fu Wan and enshrine it in the spirit shrine?

Judging by her aptitude, Fu Wan still does not qualify for that.

But Liu Junyan is willing to make an exception for her; to her, this is a great fortune!

I am certainly completely willing.

Liu Junyan continued: "After the merit in the Soul-guiding Lamp overflows, it might change shape; I intend to pour merit into it tonight, so you can familiarize yourself with it beforehand, lest you fumble when we need to use it in the Nether Realm."

I asked curiously: "Change shape? It's just a lamp; what will it turn into?"

Liu Junyan shook his head: "I'm not sure either for now; you'll see it tonight."

"Good." I wasn't in a hurry, then I asked: "Tang Aunt's destined lover—that person… do you know his identity? Or even a guess would do."

"He hasn't shown himself, nor revealed his identity; he seems very mysterious." Liu Junyan said: "But from the weapon he uses, I actually have a bold guess."

Weapon?

I suddenly recalled that when that black shadow resisted the copper coin net, it whipped forth something formed by condensed yin energy, resembling a ceremonial tablet.

A ritual tablet?

My eyes widened instantly.

Grandma was in the funeral business; I grew up under her influence, constantly exposed to it, and as for the Nether Realm, I have also heard many legends and stories from her.

When speaking of the Nether Realm, aside from the Bridge of Helplessness ah Lady Meng ah, the most talked-about are none other than the Ten Halls Yama.

The Ten Halls Yama each fulfill their duties; in the Nether Realm they also each have their own palaces, each governing a different domain, with different temperaments and weapons.

Among the Ten Halls Yama, there really is one who uses a ritual tablet.

That is the Seven Halls Yama King of Mount Tai.

The King of Mount Tai governs the Scorching Agony Great Hell, also known as the Pestle-and-Mill Meat Paste Hell; all those in the living world who steal corpses' bones to make medicine and those who are severely estranged from loved ones fall under his jurisdiction.

The meaning of stealing corpses' bones to make medicine is the act of stealing dead people's bones in the living world to manufacture or combine into medicine.

This is also, among the Ten Halls Yama, the only one who has any connection with medicine...